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.
Vintage Sabin Crest-o-Gold 22K Gold Teapot
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Rare vintage Sabin Crest-o-Gold warranted 22K teapot. The teapot holds about 36 Oz of liquid, has no cracks or chips.
Porcelain
Antique German KPM Porcelain Lidded Bartmann Jug Tankard
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Antique German KPM Porcelain Lidded Bartmann Jug Tankard. 19th century German Bellarmine Bartmann jug with bearded man from the Porcelain Manufactory K...
Pewter
Antique Meissen Porcelain Plaque after Correggio
Located in London, GB
Antique Meissen porcelain plaque after Correggio German, 19th Century Measures: Frame: Height 43cm, width 50cm, depth 10cm Plaque: Height ...
Porcelain, Giltwood
$1,250
Meissen Cherub
Located in Bronx, NY
This vintage Meissen curio cabinet porcelain dates from the late 19th century. The charming beautifully hand painted sculpted cherub is working his grinding wheel sharpening love arr...
Porcelain
19th Century German Porcelain Painted Plaque Of Madonna Della Seggiola
By (after) Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino)
Located in Dublin, IE
A very fine German 19th century circular porcelain plaque painting of La Madonna della Seggiola or La Madonna della Sedia after Raphael Sanz...
Porcelain
Very Fine Gilt Bronze, Cloisonné Enamel and Porcelain Holy Water Stoup
Located in London, GB
A very fine gilt bronze, cloisonné enamel and porcelain holy water stoup French, late 19th century Measures: Height 54cm, width 34cm, depth 9cm This b...
Enamel, Ormolu
Large Renaissance Style Painted Porcelain Plaque
Located in London, GB
Large Renaissance style painted porcelain plaque German, 20th century Frame: Height 50cm, width 64cm, depth 6cm Plaque: Height 34cm, width 49cm, depth 0.5cm In this beautifully painted porcelain plaque, a young woman in fine aristocratic clothing sits in a dark Renaissance style interior scene. She sits in a gold armchair, covered in ornate floral upholstery, stretching out her arm to pluck a rose from a bouquet of flowers on the table beside her. Behind her is a landscape painting with red velvet...
Porcelain, Giltwood
Pair of Porcelain Plaques in Giltwood Frames, After Old Master Madonnas
Located in London, GB
Pair of porcelain plaques in giltwood frames, after Old Master Madonnas Italian, 1901 Measures: Frames: height 28cm, width 23cm, depth 2cm ...
Porcelain, Giltwood
German White Porcelain Male Nude Putti Sculptures, Set of 6
Located in New York, NY
A set of six (6) German white porcelain male nude putti sculptures in the Renaissance or Neoclassical styles, circa 20th century, Germany. A fun set of six male nude tumbling putti s...
Porcelain
Two Sevres Style Porcelain Plates after Titian and Clouet
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in London, GB
These antique French plates, or chargers, are finely decorated with the portraits of two historic Kings of France: Francois I and Henry II, painte...
Porcelain
Antique Dresden porcelain cabinet plate depicting the Madonna after Raphael
By (after) Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino), Dresden Porcelain
Located in London, GB
Antique Dresden porcelain cabinet plate depicting the Madonna after Raphael German, c. 1880 Height 2.5cm, diameter 19.5cm This finely painte...
Porcelain
$3,410 / item
19th Century Oval Porcelain Plaque by Royal Vienna
Located in London, GB
19th Century oval porcelain plaque by Royal Vienna Austrian, 19th Century Frame: Height 43cm, width 52cm, depth 2cm Plaque: Height 24cm, width 34cm, depth 0.5cm This beautiful porce...
Porcelain, Velvet, Giltwood
Pair of French Renaissance style enamelled porcelain plaques
Located in London, GB
Pair of French Renaissance style enamelled porcelain plaques French, c. 1880 Frame: Height 32cm, width 22.5cm, depth 1.5cm Plaque: Height 30cm, width 20.5cm, depth 0.5cm These elega...
Porcelain
19th Century Meissen Birdcage Grouping
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
19th Century Meissen Birdcage Grouping Germany Circa 1880 This enchanting 19th-century Meissen birdcage grouping, made in Germany circa 1880, is a re...
Porcelain
$630
H 11.75 in W 7.75 in D 0.5 in
Antique KPM Porcelain Style Plaque "Madonna Della Sedia" After Raphael
Located in Atlanta, GA
Antique KPM Porcelain Style Plaque "Madonna Della Sedia" After Raphael (Italian, 15th - 16th century). A fine quality porcelain plaque with hand painted enamel surface decorated wit...
Enamel
Contemporary Italian Porcelain Vase with 22K Gold Coral Motif, 19" Height
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary Italian white porcelain tall vase with 22K gold accents. Decorative coral motif.
Porcelain
$970 / set
H 3.15 in W 1.38 in D 2.17 in
Set of 13 German Figural Porcelain and Cork Pourers Bottle Stoppers, 1930s
Located in Barntrup, DE
Adorable thirteen porcelain cork pourers or bottle stoppers with figural porcelain heads of eleven cheerful men and two beautiful girls, Germany, 1930s....
Porcelain, Cork
$7,500
H 21 in W 13 in D 8 in
Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Parcel-Gilt and Biscuit Porcelain Clock
Located in Long Island City, NY
A beautifully design late 19th century gilt bronze mounted parcel-gilt and biscuit porcelain mantel (fireplace) clock The front carved with Apollo riding his chariot. The bottom wit...
Bronze, Ormolu
$1,995
H 0.75 in Dm 8 in
Antique KPM Hand-Painted Porcelain Cabinet Plate Depicting the Biblical "Ruth"
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique hand-painted porcelain cabinet plate was made by the renowned KPM porcelain factory of Germany in approximately 1880. The center of the plate features a depiction of the...
Porcelain
Rare Porcelain Dish from Yacht Corsair W Model
Located in Norwell, MA
Flagship china bowl from J.P. Morgan's private yacht Corsair when it was flagship of the New York Yacht Club. Fitted to a case with a ship model of the C...
Porcelain, Wood
Large KPM Porcelain Plaque of 'Romeo and Juliet' 19th Century
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality large 19th century KPM Porcelain plaque, depicting 'Romeo and Juliet' mounted in a carved giltwood frame.
Porcelain
Antique German KPM Royal Berlin Porcelain Hand-Painted Oyster Plate
By Kerafina Royal Porzellan KPM
Located in Atlanta, GA
Antique German KPM Royal Berlin Porcelain Hand-Painted Oyster Plate with six wells. The KPM Royal Berlin factory, renowned for producing fine porcelain since the 18th century, is hi...
Porcelain
$9,500 / set
H 14 in Dm 8 in
Fine Pair of Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze and Japanese Satsuma Porcelain Vases
By Satsuma
Located in Long Island City, NY
A very fine pair of late 19th century gilt bronze and Japanese Satsuma porcelain vases. Painted scenes of men, women and children in landscape scenes and at leisure surrounded by ...
Bronze
Very Fine Late 19th Century Sèvres Style Porcelain Vase
Located in Long Island City, NY
A Fine Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze and Sèvres Style Porcelain Vase Covered top with an acorn style finial, above a long decorated spiral neck with raised gilt designs, the body s...
Bronze, Ormolu
Meissen Four Elements Porcelain Ewers
Located in New Orleans, LA
This extremely rare and important set of four Meissen ewers represents the Four Elements: Earth, Air, Water and Fire. Impressive in both size and artistry, they are among the most fa...
Porcelain
Sold
H 2.37 in Dm 5.52 in
Viennese Imperial Porcelain Collecting Cup 'The Abduction Of Persephone', 1816
By Viennese Imperial Porcelain Manufactory
Located in Vienna, AT
Excellent example of old Viennese porcelain painting: Cylindrical cup with rich gilding: large oval reserve with finely painted polychrome mythological scene, framed by a gold frame ...
Porcelain
Italian Renaissance Style Wall Decorative Plaque, a Pair
Located in Plainview, NY
A pair of Italian Renaissance style wall decorative plaques. the hexagonal shaped plaques has each a fine brass floral design on top and bottom, two...
Brass
Sold
H 0.875 in W 11.75 in D 12.25 in
Vintage Royal Bavaria Hutschenreuther Selb Gold & Pink Portrait Plate German
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Royal Bavaria Hutschenreuther Selb privat-decor portrait round platter / charger / plate with handles in magenta embossed with gold surrounding a scene of two lovers, by Drag...
Porcelain
Large Vintage Mediterranean Majolica Two Handled Urn
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Large vintage Mediterranean Majolica two handled urn. This fabulous vintage bulbous urn is hand decorated with yellow Renaissance Medici style motifs ...
Majolica
Jacob Petit Porcelain Potpourri
By Jacob Petit
Located in New Orleans, LA
This charming porcelain potpourri was crafted by the renowned French ceramicist Jacob Petit, one of the finest porcelain artists of the 19th centur...
Porcelain
Sold
H 7.09 in Dm 3.15 in
Sicilian Giovanni Capuani Este Porcelain Lemon Sugar Bowl Number 78, Italy 1940s
Located in Sofia, BG
Giovanni Capuani “Vecchia Este” Italy, 1940 Dipinto a mano or Handmade Marked BA 78 Este Ceramiche Porcellane, established in the 18th century in its ...
Porcelain
Sold
H 3.75 in W 2.96 in D 0.4 in
Antique Meissen Porcelain Plaque of the Sistine Madonna after Raphael
By Meissen Porcelain, (after) Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino)
Located in London, GB
This charming miniature porcelain plaque depicts the Sistine Madonna after Raphael's famous Renaissance masterpiece of 1513. The oval plaque is set in a gilt frame, and bears the Mei...
Porcelain
19th Century Antique Bronze and Barbotine Jardiniere
Located in Dallas, TX
Made in France to mimic the popular oriental porcelain that was all the rage in Europe, this 19th century bronze and barbotine jardiniere features...
Bronze