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 Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble
17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Stone
Mid-18th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
Early 1900s Belgian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Brass
Early 20th Century Italian Renaissance Decorative Objects
Faience, Hardwood
19th Century Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Brass
Mid-20th Century Renaissance Decorative Objects
Mirror
19th Century Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood, Oak, Walnut
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Glass
1950s Vintage Renaissance Decorative Objects
Metal, Stainless Steel
19th Century Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Pewter
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble, Ormolu
19th Century Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
19th Century Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Silver
19th Century Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Gold
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood, Walnut
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble
20th Century American Renaissance Decorative Objects
Brass
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Gold Leaf
Early 20th Century American Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze, Gold Leaf
1990s Italian Renaissance Decorative Objects
Ceramic, Majolica
17th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Stone
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Stone
18th Century Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood, Walnut
1890s French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Ceramic
16th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Copper, Other
18th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Pottery
Late 17th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
17th Century Belgian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble, Belgian Black Marble
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble, Ormolu
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Renaissance Decorative Objects
Ceramic
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
16th Century German Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Stucco, Wood, Paper
16th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Agate, Silver
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Enamel
1930s French Vintage Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Renaissance Decorative Objects
Ceramic, Majolica
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Gold Leaf
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Maiolica
Late 19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
1690s European Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
Early 18th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Pottery
18th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood, Fruitwood
1840s Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Brass
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Gold Leaf
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
18th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Ormolu
Early 17th Century Dutch Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Ceramic, Majolica
1860s French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
Early 17th Century Dutch Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Ceramic, Majolica
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Pottery, Majolica, Faience
16th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
Early 20th Century French Renaissance Decorative Objects
Cast Stone