Renaissance Decorative Objects
Spanning an era of cultural rebirth in Europe that harkened back to antiquity, the Renaissance was a time of change in design. From the late 1400s to the early 1600s, Rome, Venice and Florence emerged as artistic centers through the expansion of global trade and a humanist belief in the arts being central to society. Antique Renaissance furniture was ornately carved from sturdy woods like walnut, its details standing out against the tapestries and stained glass adorning the walls.
Renaissance chests, which were frequently commissioned for marriages, were often decorated with gilding or painted elements. Those that were known as cassoni were crafted in shapes based on classical sarcophagi. As opposed to the medieval era, when furniture was pared down to the necessities, a wide range of Renaissance chairs, tables and cabinets were created for the home, and the designs regularly referenced ancient Rome.
Large torchères of the Renaissance era that were used as floor lamps were inspired by classical candelabras, while marble surfaces evoked frescoes. The inlaid boxes being imported from the Middle East informed the intarsia technique, which involved varying hues of wood in mosaic-like patterns, such as those by architect Giuliano da Maiano in the Florence Cathedral.
Tapestry-woven cushion covers accented the variety of Renaissance seating — from conversation to study chairs — while bookcases for secular use reflected the migration of culture and knowledge from the church into the home. The aesthetics of the Italian Renaissance later spread to France through the publishing of work by renowned designers, including Hugues Sambin and Jacques Androuet du Cerceau. Centuries later, the 19th-century Renaissance Revival would see a return to this influential style.
Find a collection of antique Renaissance case pieces, decorative objects and other furniture on 1stDibs.
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble, Bronze, Wrought Iron
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Blown Glass, Nutwood, Foam
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Maiolica
19th Century European Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Hardwood
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Maiolica
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Alabaster
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Petrified Wood
Early 19th Century English Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Agate, Sterling Silver
Mid-19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Porcelain
Early 20th Century British Renaissance Decorative Objects
Brass
Early 1900s French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Onyx, Ormolu
17th Century German Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Stoneware
Early 20th Century Italian Renaissance Decorative Objects
Porcelain
17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
20th Century Italian Renaissance Decorative Objects
Carrara Marble, Bronze
Early 17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Earthenware
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Faience
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Renaissance Decorative Objects
Limestone, Carrara Marble
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Porcelain
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Ceramic
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Renaissance Decorative Objects
Ceramic
1920s Italian Vintage Renaissance Decorative Objects
Terracotta
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Terracotta
Early 20th Century Italian Renaissance Decorative Objects
Alabaster, Marble
1890s French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Metal
1880s French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble, Bronze
Early 20th Century Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
Late 17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Carrara Marble
Early 20th Century Italian Renaissance Decorative Objects
Beech
20th Century Renaissance Decorative Objects
Brass
1970s Italian Vintage Renaissance Decorative Objects
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Early 20th Century Unknown Renaissance Decorative Objects
Alabaster
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Iron
Early 1900s French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble, Bronze
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Plaster
16th Century Belgian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
1870s French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
16th Century German Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Oak
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Ormolu
16th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Other
16th Century Dutch Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze, Copper
1960s French Vintage Renaissance Decorative Objects
Steel
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble, Ormolu
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Silver Plate, Bronze
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Stone, Agate, Silver
16th Century Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
16th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Other
Early 20th Century French Renaissance Decorative Objects
Cast Stone
Early 20th Century Italian Renaissance Decorative Objects
Iron
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Iron
18th Century Portuguese Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood