Skip to main content

Medieval Ceramics

MEDIEVAL STYLE

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.

3
to
1
3
3
3
3
2,906
1,297
1,091
674
359
286
187
151
86
79
67
40
27
25
8
2
2
1
2
1
1
3
2
1
3
1
1
1
1
1
Style: Medieval
Deruta Italian Ceramic Set Three Hand Painted Wall Plates
Located in Prato, Tuscany
We kindly suggest you read the whole description, because with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our objects. Three delightful and colorful round ceramic wall plates; they were created completely by hand between 1965 and 1968 by a small artisan workshop in Deruta (Perugia, Italy) respecting ancient traditions and raw materials; clay, enamel, colors, water, fire and the hands of the artist: these are the simple elements that lead to the creation of a ceramic article; on the back they have two holes so they can be hung on the wall; they represent characters in Renaissance clothing, each in a different pose: the first is a swordsman who wields a special weapon of the time the "side sword" with S-shaped guard and a dagger with guard very elaborate, useful to trap the blade of the opponent; the "spada da lato" (side sword) is that elegant and handy sword that, from the second half of the fifteenth century and throughout the sixteenth century, is worn on the belt by nobles or rich, a weapon designed for self-defense or to be used in a duel; In fact the second plate represents just a duel in which the two contenders always use "swords side", the one on the left also has a small shield and the one on the right wields an effective and perfidiously fast double-edged dagger; In the third plate is painted a "naccarino" who plays a cylindrical drum (similar to those spread by the Lanzichenecchi from the fifteenth-sixteenth century) held on the side and beaten with two sticks, the "naccarini" were players of small instruments whose presence was required every time you had to give particular solemnity to a public event. We don't know why the people of Deruta began to work the terracotta and to produce vases and manufactured articles in ceramics but we know with all certainty that already in the Middle Ages the city was known for the production of ceramics of high quality, the first written sources make to date the ceramics of Deruta (Perugia) to 1282. In the Renaissance, they were active to Deruta more than fifty furnaces with which they collaborated artists like the Perugino, the Pinturicchio, and Luca Signorelli. The mastery of the artisans and artists of Deruta ceramics...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Medieval Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Castle Hedingham William II Medieval Style Art Pottery Jug
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
An unusual Castle Hedingham medieval style pottery jug marked for William Rufus (William II, son of William the Conqueror) and made by Edward Bingham ...
Category

19th Century English Antique Medieval Ceramics

Materials

Pottery

Antique Relief Tile Panel in the Style of J. Parentani, 1890
Located in Rijssen, NL
Stunning Art Nouveau/ Arts & Crafts tile panel from the superb firm, Craven Dunnill, & Co., Ltd, Jackfield Salop, England, circa 1905, in a bright celadon. This quantity original jug...
Category

1890s French Antique Medieval Ceramics

Materials

Earthenware, Pottery

Related Items
Ceramic Plate Hand Painted Glazed Earthenware Italian Contemporary
Located in London, GB
"Recycle" hand painted ceramic plate "SegnalEtica" series by Pantoù Ceramics, hand thrown and hand painted glazed earthenware. All unique pieces, Italy, 2019. Measure: 40 cm diameter...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Medieval Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic, Earthenware

Peter Shire Exp Signed Ceramic Pottery Splatter Tall Mug Sculpture, Dated 1981
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderful work by famed Los Angeles (Echo Park), California-based artist Peter Shire who was a founding member (along with Italian designer Ettore Sottsass and others) of The Memphis Group, an international design movement that came out of Italy during the 1980s (1980-1988), and specialized in postmodern furniture, lighting, fabrics, carpets, ceramics, glass, and metal objects. This work is from 1981 and is signed with Shire's customary "EXP" pottery (Echo Park Pottery...
Category

1980s American Vintage Medieval Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Majolica Plate Centerpiece Ceramic Wall Dish Hand-Painted Dolphins Deruta Italy
Located in Recanati, IT
Majolica dish hand made and hand-painted in Deruta, Italy, according to the original Renaissance painting technique. The dish is enriched by the presence of four metamorphic dolphin-...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Medieval Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic, Majolica

Set of Six Antique 19th Century Hand Painted Minton Earthenware Ceramic Tiles
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
A set of six (one bonus tile thrown in of a double but in bad condition) Victorian hand painted Minton China Works in Stoke-upon-Trent, England, English tiles designed by John Moyr Smith...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Medieval Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic, Earthenware

Peter Shire Exp Signed Post Modern Ceramic California Pottery Splatter Cup, 1979
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderful work by famed Los Angeles (Echo Park), California-based artist Peter Shire who was a founding member (along with Italian designer Ettore Sottsass and others) of The Memph...
Category

1970s American Vintage Medieval Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic, Pottery

Garden of the Sultan Hand Painted Ceramic Plate Made in Italy Turquoise
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
This wonderful plate is made out of Italian ceramic and the border is hand painted the images of the flowers will bring us to the garden of Topkapi, the Sultan's Palace in Istanbul ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Medieval Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Polia Pillin Signed Mid-Century Modern California Studio Pottery Yunomi Tea Cup
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderful, whimsical diminutive Yunomi tea cup by famed Polish-American master potter/artist Polia Pillin featuring a deep, rich cobalt blue glaze with streaks of green swirling ar...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Medieval Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic, Pottery

Robert Maxwell Signed Large Mid-Century Modern California Studio Pottery Charger
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderfully made and beautifully designed Mid-Century Modern pottery charger by famed California potter and sculptor Robert Maxwell. Maxwell co-founded Earthgender pottery with fellow potter David Cressey. This charger/platter was made at his Venice beach, California Pottery studio in the early 1960s as verified by his wife. It is a very rare piece in respect to design, pattern, and sheer Size/heft (it is a very heavy work). We have not seen another quite like it. Apparently, he only made a few with some filled with melted glass to create the design/pattern. Signed by Maxwell on the base. Would clearly be a great addition to any mid-century pottery/ceramics collection...
Category

1960s American Vintage Medieval Ceramics

Materials

Pottery

Garden of the Sultan Hand Painted Ceramic Plate Made in Italy Pink
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
This wonderful plate is made out of Italian ceramic and the border is hand painted the images of the flowers will bring us to the garden of Topkapi, the Sultan's Palace in Istanbul ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Medieval Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Vintage Hand Painted Ceramic Tiles Wall Hanging
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Exceptional Persian tile set of nine tiles with birds fish and flowers motifs, professionally mounted on custom made steel frame and backing. Some til...
Category

Late 20th Century Asian Medieval Ceramics

Materials

Metal

Ceramic Plate Hand Painted Glazed Majolica Italy Contemporary 21st Century
Located in London, GB
"Eyes Protection" hand painted ceramic plate "SegnalEtica" series by Pantoù Ceramics, hand thrown and hand painted glazed earthenware. All unique pieces, Italy, 2019. Measure: 40 cm ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Medieval Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic, Majolica

Beatrice Wood Signed Monumental Midcentury Queen Elizabeth Pottery Charger
Located in Studio City, CA
An extremely rare and wonderfully hand-painted monumentally large charger featuring a portrait of Queen Elizabeth - a quite unique and bold work by famed American/ California studio ...
Category

20th Century American Medieval Ceramics

Materials

Earthenware

Medieval ceramics for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Medieval ceramics for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage ceramics created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, building and garden elements, folk art and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, pottery and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Medieval ceramics made in a specific country, there are Europe, England, and France pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original ceramics, popular names associated with this style include and Deruta. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for ceramics differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $519 and tops out at $1,559 while the average work can sell for $529.

Recently Viewed

View All