Medieval Vases
The Middle Ages in Europe followed the end of the Roman Empire, and in this time of change, which preceded the Renaissance, furniture was simple and utilitarian, with most homes having only the necessities like chests and benches. Much of medieval furniture, which was often made in oak or walnut, was built for the elite, particularly the emerging merchant class who owned multiple homes.
Life for many in the medieval era was unstable, and furniture was designed to be functional and portable. Peasants worked the fields for affluent landowners and didn’t have access to literature in the way that nobles and people of the church did (women less so than men). The furniture in their modest dwellings was typically limited to cookware and a handful of stools. Foldable chairs, while uncommon in homes of the early Middle Ages and emblematic of wealth, like all other furnishings of the time, allowed for easy transportation of a household. Trestle tables with detachable legs and collapsible beds were designed to be simply moved from place to place.
Medieval blanket chests were among the most important furniture objects and could further serve as tables or even beds. Some ancient traditions were carried forward to build this sturdy furniture, such as turnery. Although the furniture was minimally designed, embellishments like carvings added elegance to the heavy wood pieces. These details sometimes reflected trends in religious art like rose windows.
By the later Middle Ages, storage pieces like chests of drawers were often adorned with high relief carvings, such as geometric and floral motifs. By the 14th and 15th centuries, design had developed to include more involved pieces like cupboards and desks, while benches frequently doubled as chests with hinged seats. Beds also changed in this era from basic boards to four-post designs with large drapes to keep the sleeper warm. These beds and other medieval bedroom furniture were significant status symbols, passed down through families and used as places to conduct business and receive visitors.
Surviving examples of medieval furniture are very rare, yet its distinctive aesthetics influenced later styles like William and Mary and Arts and Crafts.
Find a collection of medieval seating, garden elements, decorative objects and other furniture on 1stDibs.
18th Century Spanish Antique Medieval Vases
Ceramic
Early 18th Century Italian Antique Medieval Vases
Marble
Early 19th Century British Antique Medieval Vases
Bronze
Early 17th Century German Antique Medieval Vases
Stoneware
Early 20th Century European Medieval Vases
Porcelain
1920s French Vintage Medieval Vases
Ceramic
Late 19th Century French Antique Medieval Vases
Bronze
Late 20th Century Indian Medieval Vases
Brass
18th Century South Korean Antique Medieval Vases
Pottery
Late 19th Century French Antique Medieval Vases
Earthenware
Early 18th Century Italian Antique Medieval Vases
Porcelain
Late 18th Century Chinese Antique Medieval Vases
Stoneware
Late 18th Century Cambodian Antique Medieval Vases
Terracotta
Late 19th Century French Antique Medieval Vases
Faience, Majolica, Pottery
19th Century French Antique Medieval Vases
Earthenware, Pottery, Ceramic
Late 18th Century Korean Antique Medieval Vases
Porcelain
19th Century French Antique Medieval Vases
Bronze
Mid-17th Century Chinese Antique Medieval Vases
Ceramic
20th Century Spanish Medieval Vases
Earthenware
Mid-20th Century French Medieval Vases
Ceramic
21st Century and Contemporary French Medieval Vases
Stone, Cast Stone, Cement
Early 20th Century French Medieval Vases
Ceramic
1830s Dutch Antique Medieval Vases
Pottery
16th Century German Antique Medieval Vases
Earthenware
Early 17th Century German Antique Medieval Vases
Ceramic
1850s French Antique Medieval Vases
Brass
