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.
Mi-relief en bois doré et polychromé, représentant saint-Roch. Espagne , 16e S.
Located in PARIS, FR
An important bas-relief in carved wood with traces of gilding, in an architectural frame with two cherubs in the spandrels, representing Saint Roch. He is considered to be the patro...
Giltwood
Pair of American Parcel-Gilt and Bronze Candelabra/Lamps E.F.Caldwell Attributed
Located in New York, NY
A fine pair of American parcel-gilt and patinated bronze, twin light candelabras/ table lamps attributed to Edward F. Caldwell & Co, New York, first quarter of the 20th century. Ea...
Bronze, Gold Leaf
Pair of French 19th Century Renaissance St. Bronze, Ormolu, and Marble Tazzas
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A fine pair of French 19th century Renaissance st. patinated bronze, ormolu Rouge Griotte, and Black Belgian marble tazzas. Each tazza is raised by a circular black Belgian marble ba...
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
$4,097Sale Price|20% Off
16th Century Walnut Sculptures from Germany
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Very elegant sculpture reprenting a Putti (angel) from the German renaissance period -16 century Rare sculpture in walnut of great quality with a very beau...
Walnut
Bronze Mother and Child by Faure De Brousse
By Vincent Désiré Fauré de Broussé
Located in London, GB
This beautiful sculpture of a mother and child was created in circa 1900 by the French sculptor, Vincent Desire Faure de Brousse. Faure de Brousse was...
Bronze
$10,000Sale Price|20% Off
Sculpture of John The Baptist, 16th Century
Located in North Miami, FL
Early 16th Century Spanish gold gilded and polychromed carved wood sculpture of John The Baptist.
Gold Leaf
French 19th Century Renaissance Style Silvered Bronze, Ormolu and Bronze Ewers
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and richly decorated pair of French 19th century Renaissance st. silvered bronze, ormolu and patinated bronze ewers. Both are raised by a square ormolu base with rounded c...
Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Renaissance Style Candlesticks
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An outstanding true pair of French 19th century Renaissance st. patinated bronze, ormolu and Belgian Granite candlesticks. Each candlestick is raised by hexagonal granite bases with a bottom wrap around mottled ormolu band and six finely scrolled foliate feet. The right one displays a beautiful patinated bronze maiden seated on a richly chased ormolu dolphin...
Granite, Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Renaissance St. Bronze, Opaline, and Marble Ewers
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking and extremely decorative pair of French 19th century Renaissance st. patinated bronze, Opaline, and black Belgian marble ewers/urns. Each urn is...
Belgian Black Marble, Bronze
Pair of French 19th Century Renaissance Style Patinated Bronze Lidded Urns
By AUGUST MAXIMILIEN DELAFONTAINE
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A charming and high quality pair of French 19th century Renaissance st. patinated bronze lidded urns, attributed to Auguste-Maximilien Delafontaine. Each urn is raised by a square ba...
Bronze
Michelangelo prèt-a-porter by Andrea Salvatori, Ceramic Sculpture Contemporary
Located in London, GB
"Michelangelo prèt-a-porter " -Testone - Unique piece, 2017 glazed earthenware A Ring Thing collection A small chair, a miniature moon, a Philipp Stark's squeezer or the anatomic...
Ceramic, Earthenware
True Pair of French 19th Century Renaissance St. Bronze & Ormolu Ewers
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking true pair of French 19th century Renaissance st. ormolu and patinated bronze ewers. Each ewer is raised by a superb circular reeded base with a fine spiral fluted socle sh...
Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Regence Style Ormolu Candlesticks
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exceptional pair of French 19th century Renaissance st. ormolu candlesticks. Each candlestick is raised by an elegant and most decorative triangular base with lavish scrolled foli...
Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Renaissance Style Nine-Arm Candelabras
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A superb quality and impressive large scale pair of French 19th century Renaissance st. Rouge Griotte and ormolu nine arm candelabras, signed F. Barbedienne. Each is raised by a square Rouge Griotte marble base with an ormolu ‘C’ scrolled support in a lion paw design amidst scrolled acanthus leaves. Above is an ormolu laurel band below the fluted marble pedestal...
Marble, Ormolu
Michelangelo Prèt-a-porter Ceramic Sculptural Ring Contemporary
Located in London, GB
"Michelangelo prèt-a-porter " -peneculo - Unique piece, 2017 glazed earthenware A RING THING collection A small chair, a miniature moon, a Philipp Stark's squeezer or the anatomi...
Ceramic, Earthenware
A fine pair of 19th century Italian painted black and gilt carved torchieres
Located in Dallas, TX
A large and fine pair of Italian Renaissance carved and black painted torchieres with parcel gilt.
Ebony
Amazing Italian Bowl Made of Agate and Gilded Silver with Stones 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Amazing Italian Bowl Made of Agate and Gilded Silver With Stones 19th century Neo-Renaissance agate bowl with acanthus leaf rim rests on four legs depicting winged chimeras. Moun...
Stone, Agate, Silver
French 19th century Renaissance st. Ormolu and Silvered Bronze tray/centerpiece
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and most decorative French 19th century Renaissance st. Ormolu and Silvered Bronze tray/centerpiece. This wonderful rectangular shaped "vide poche" tray is raised by four ...
Silver Plate, Ormolu
pair of French 19th century Renaissance st. Bronze and Ormolu candelabras
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A unique and most decorative pair of French 19th century Renaissance st. patinated Bronze and Ormolu candelabras. Each striking four arm candelabra is raised on an X-shaped Ormolu ba...
Bronze, Ormolu
French 19th Century Renaissance St. Bronzre, Marble, and Ormolu Garniture Set
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking and very high quality French 19th century Renaissance st. Rouge Griotte marble, patinated bronze, and ormolu garniture clock set. The clock at the center is raised by hand...
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Renaissance St. Ormolu and Marble Candelabras
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and high quality pair of French 19th century Renaissance st. Ormolu and Rouge Griotte marble candelabras. Each most elegant two arm candelabra is raised by a circular Roug...
Marble, Ormolu
Michelangelo prèt-a-porter Andrea Salvatori Ceramic Sculptural Ring contemporary
Located in London, GB
"Michelangelo prèt-a-porter " - Unique piece, 2017 glazed earthenware A Ring Thing collection A small chair, a miniature moon, a Philipp Stark's squeezer or the anatomical detail...
Ceramic, Earthenware
Michelangelo Prèt-a-Porter Ceramic Sculptural Ring Contemporary
Located in London, GB
"Michelangelo prèt-a-porter " - Unique piece, 2017 glazed earthenware A RING THING collection A small chair, a miniature moon, a Philipp Stark's squeezer or the anatomical detail...
Ceramic, Earthenware