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.
Murano "Albarelli" Italian Pair of Bottles with Lid Blue Blown Glass
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. Delicious and harmonious pair of blue blown glass bottles with lid...
Glass
Early 20 Century Venetian Art Glass Rummer
Located in Den Haag, NL
Original Early 20th Century Italian Design Intricate Art Glass Vase in pale green glass. Made in Italy, Murano region, early 20th century. Beautiful pale green glass, hand blown, han...
Blown Glass
$383
H 4.14 in Dm 2.76 in
Murano Italian Hand Blown Twin Handled Bottle Shaped Millefiori Art Glass Vase
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A very fine Art Deco Italian Murano satin glass millefiori twin handled vase dating from circa 1930-1940. This quality vase is of small bottle shape...
Blown Glass
Midcentury Murano Glass Lidded Vessel with Gold Inclusions
Located in Troy, MI
Midcentury Murano glass tall lidded vessel in clear glass embellished with gold inclusions. Unknown maker. Excellent vintage condition with no flaws found. Minor scattered surface wear.
Murano Glass
$2,500 / set
H 7.41 in Dm 4.22 in
Cenedese Rare Vintage Trio of Blue Glass Apothecary Lidded Jars Murano Italy
By Cenedese
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Rare set of three Venetian Murano blue colored / coloured glass Apothecary jars or urns with lids. Wonderful vintage Mid-Century Italian glass and perfect for the storage sweets or snacks in the kitchen or for cotton wool buds or cosmetics in a bathroom or for make-up or jewellery or cotton wool buds and such accessoires. Similar in style to the original designs of apothecary jars from the 19th and early 20th century. Measurements are circa: Large jar - 18.8cm tall by 10.7cm wide Medium jar - 15.7cm tall by 10.7cm wide Small jar - 12.5cm tall by 10.7cm wide. Rare set of jars...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Rare Cenedese Amber 'Corroso' Glass Apothecary Jar with Lid Murano, Italy
By Cenedese
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Venetian Murano amber colored / coloured glass Apothecary jar or urn with lid with an acid etched (corroso) finish. Wonderful vintage midcentury Italian glass and perfect for the sto...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
$1,985
H 23 in Dm 20.25 in
Large Venetian Salviati Murano Art Glass Charger Mounted Sculpture, 20th Century
By Salviati
Located in San Francisco, CA
An absolutely remarkable very large art glass charger / sculpture on museum quality mount. Marked Salviati. Italy, 20th Century. Founded in 1859, Salviati remains one of the most pre...
Glass
Early Emile Gallé Vase in Frosted and Brown Art Glass, Early 20th C.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Early Emile Gallé vase in frosted and brown art glass carved with motifs in the form of foliage. Early 20th century. Measures: 23 x 9 cm. In excellent condition. Signed.
Art Glass
Midcentury Crystal and Blue Murano Blown Glass Vase, Italy 1960s
By Venini
Located in Roma, IT
Amazing crystal and light blue Murano glass vase. This item is attributed to Venini and was produced in Italy during 1960s. This wonderfu...
Glass, Art Glass, Murano Glass
$1,020Sale Price|30% Off
H 14.57 in W 3.94 in D 3.94 in
Murano Corroded Glass Bottle Cobalt Blue Mid-century Italian Design Seguso
By Seguso
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Murano corroded glass bottle cobalt blue midcentury Italian Design.
Murano Glass
$3,750 / set
H 6.19 in Dm 3.94 in
Cenedese Rare Vintage Set of 5 Green Glass Apothecary Lidded Jars Murano Italy
By Cenedese
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Rare set of five Venetian Murano green colored / coloured glass Apothecary jars or urns with lids. Wonderful vintage Mid-Century Italian glass and perfect for the storage sweets or snacks in the kitchen or for cotton wool buds or cosmetics in a bathroom or for make-up or jewellery or cotton wool buds and such accessoires. Similar in style to the original designs of apothecary jars from the 19th and early 20th century. Measurements are circa: Large jar - 15.7cm tall by 10cm wide Medium jar - 12.5cm tall by 10cm wide Small jar - 9.5cm tall by 10cm wide. Rare set of jars...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
$461
H 15.75 in Dm 4.14 in
Mid-Century Modern Smoked Ruby Red Murano Blown Glass Italian Bottle, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Mid-Century Modern smoked ruby red Murano blown glass bottle. This fantastic piece was designed in Italy during the 1970s. This piece is outstanding...
Glass, Blown Glass, Smoked Glass
$2,500 / set
H 7.41 in Dm 4.22 in
Cenedese Rare Vintage Trio of Green Glass Apothecary Lidded Jars Murano Italy
By Cenedese
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Rare set of three Venetian Murano green colored / colored glass Apothecary jars or urns with lids. Wonderful vintage Mid-Century Italian glass and perfect for the storage sweets or snacks in the kitchen or for cotton wool buds or cosmetics in a bathroom or for make-up or jewellery or cotton wool buds and such accessoires. Similar in style to the original designs of apothecary jars from the 19th and early 20th century. Measurements are circa: Large jar - 18.8cm tall by 10.7cm wide Medium jar - 15.7cm tall by 10.7cm wide Small jar - 12.5cm tall by 10.7cm wide. Rare set of jars...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Venini Murano Italian Blue Glass Bottle Incisi Serie, 1981
By Venini
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Italian light blue glass bottle with stopper, “Incisi” series, submerged glass with surface entirely worked by grinding produced by Venini Murano, Ve...
Murano Glass
c. 1970 Set of 8 Lismore by Waterford Champagne Coups
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1970 set of 8 Lismore by Waterford champagne coups. For champagne cocktails or sherbet. Used once & stored, single owner. Retain labels. 4 1/8" h., 4" dia.
Crystal
Antique Crystal Ball on Solid Brass Gothic Style Base
Located in San Francisco, CA
A Crystal Ball ( 8" diameter) on an antique Gothic style solid brass tripod base with a bat motif.
Crystal, Brass
c. 1970 Set of 6 Powerscourt by Waterford Flat Tumbler Glasses
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1970 Set of 6 Powerscourt by Waterford 10oz flat tumbler glasses, Ireland. 4 3/8" h. Crystal. Gothic-script "Waterford" mark. The pattern was introduced in 1969, it is now disc...
Crystal
c. 1970 Set of 8 Powerscourt by Waterford Sherry Glasses
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1970 Set of 8 Powerscourt by Waterford Sherry Glasses, Ireland. 6 3/8" h. Also ideal for cordials or liquors. Crystal. Gothic-script "Waterford" mark. The pattern was introduce...
Crystal
c. 1970 Set of 8 Powerscourt by Waterford Claret Crystal Glasses
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1970 Set of 8 Powerscourt by Waterford Claret Glasses, Ireland. 7 1/8" h. Crystal. Gothic-script "Waterford" mark. The pattern was introduced in 1969, it is now discoutinued. T...
Crystal
c. 1970 Set of 8 Powerscourt by Waterford Goblets
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1970 Set of 8 Powerscourt by Waterford Water Goblets, Ireland. 7 5/8" h. Also ideal as red wine goblets. Crystal. Gothic-script "Waterfor...
Crystal
Bohemian Antique Engraved Overlay Yellow Glass Sugar Casket
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A very fine and charming antique Bohemian engraved yellow overlay glass lidded presentation sugar casket dating from the 19th century. The small rectangul...
Cut Glass
Artefact Merovingian Glass Bell-Beaker, 6th Century A.D
Located in Antwerp, BE
Late Roman Merovingian Glass Bell Beaker secular art from the Country: Germany / Krefeld. Culture: Merovingian.Date: 6th century AD.Material: Pale yellow, ...
Blown Glass
Bohemian Glass and Enamel Beaker after Anton Kothgasser
By Anton Kothgasser
Located in London, GB
This fantastic antique cup is the work of the Bohemian glassmakers of the 19th century, Bohemia being a region of Central Europe particularly renowned for the quality of its glass wa...
Cut Glass, Glass
Collection of Five 15th-16th Century European Bottles
Located in Bridgeport, CT
In all original condition with great forms and color. Bottles range in size from 8" high to 14" high.
Glass