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
Bronze
1930s Italian Vintage Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
1990s Italian Renaissance Decorative Objects
Ceramic, Majolica
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
Mid-18th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Walnut
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Terracotta
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble, Statuary Marble
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Onyx, Bronze, Enamel
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Ormolu
1980s Italian Vintage Renaissance Decorative Objects
Silver
17th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Stone
Early 20th Century Italian Renaissance Decorative Objects
Beech
1990s Italian Renaissance Decorative Objects
Sterling Silver
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Plaster
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Renaissance Decorative Objects
Ceramic, Majolica
2010s Italian Renaissance Decorative Objects
Ceramic
16th Century Belgian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
16th Century European Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Metal, Iron
18th Century Portuguese Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Gesso, Wood
20th Century Italian Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
16th Century European Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
Early 17th Century Portuguese Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
17th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Boxwood
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Giltwood
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble
18th Century Portuguese Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
17th Century German Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Stoneware
Early 20th Century European Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood, Paint
1980s French Vintage Renaissance Decorative Objects
Silver Plate
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
Early 1900s Belgian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Brass
1860s French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble
1990s American Renaissance Decorative Objects
Giltwood
1930s European Vintage Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Renaissance Decorative Objects
Ceramic, Clay, Majolica
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
Mid-20th Century Italian Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood, Giltwood, Paint
19th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
18th Century Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood, Walnut
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
19th Century Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Pewter
20th Century Renaissance Decorative Objects
Silver, Copper
19th Century Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Paint
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
16th Century Czech Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Pottery
19th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Brass
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze, Ormolu
16th Century Dutch Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Oak
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood, Giltwood, Paint
Early 17th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Boxwood