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.
Spanish Provincial Style Carved Horse Head Wall Plaque Sign
Located in Queens, NY
Spanish Provincial (20th Cent) style painted and carved horse head wall plaque/sign (La Taberna Caballoblanco) (Related item: 049724D).
Wood
Antique Renaissance Biblical Panel Carving Polychrome Decoration, 16th Century
Located in Bristol, GB
ANTIQUE CARVED PANEL Depicting a dramatic biblical scene, possibly related to the Old Testament story of Abraham and Issac. A younger figure is depicted on their knees praying, whi...
Wood, Paint, Giltwood, Pine
Renaissance Altar Frame, probably Italy, late 16th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Large and architecturally structured frame from an altar retable, likely originating in 16th-century Italy made from pine and linden tree. The composition features a tripartite layou...
Pine
Renaissance Carved French Oak Panel
Located in Denton, TX
Weathered Renaissance carved oak panel, originally from a piece of furniture.
Wood
18th C Rare Wood Female Carving Artifact
Located in Malibu, CA
18th century wooden carving of an female form. Presumed to be a French church piece. This figure has a beautiful face.
Wood
Italian 18th century Painting of the Road to Calvary
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive and intricately detailed Italian 18th century Renaissance st. Oil on Canvas and Mecca painting of the Road to Calvary, in the manner of Giovanni Paolo Panini. This dram...
Giltwood, Paint
Vintage Round Italian Colorful Hand Painted Ceramic Majolica Fruit Platter
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A colorful jewel toned polychrome majolica platter decorated with various embossed fruits such as peaches, grapes, tomatoes, pears and various green foliage. It has been hand painted...
Ceramic, Paint
English Renaissance Revival Copper Lavabo
Located in Queens, NY
English Renaissance Revival (19/20th Century) copper lavabo with wrought iron bracket. No lid/ sold \"AS IS\".
Copper
Italian Renaissance Carved Wall Plaque
Located in Queens, NY
Italian Renaissance (16th Century) oak carved relief wall plaque of religious figure with children.
Oak
$1,200Sale Price|20% Off
Italian Folk Art Stradivarius Violin Plaque Crafted for Cosimo de Medici 1690
Located in South Burlington, VT
Italian folk art Pyrography picture signed, H. Toscano This is an original and unusual detailed 1690 enactment , and hand incised work of art on wood pan...
Wood
15th Century French Carved Limestone Head Fragment
Located in Chicago, IL
An incredible and rare 15th century French carved limestone fragment depicting the back of a man's head with a wavy hair texture, and mounted on a c...
Marble
Antique Pair Continental French Limoges Hanging Wall Plaque
By Limoges
Located in Tarry Town, NY
This exquisite pair of antique Limoges wall plaques showcases the elegance and artistry of French craftsmanship. Each plaque features a finely enam...
Porcelain, Upholstery
18th Century oil on board of lady attributed to Balthasar Denner
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Here we have a oil on board attributed to denner circa 1730. Depicting a typical subject of his, showing the face in high detail. Would benefit from a professional clean. Which we co...
Wood, Giltwood, Paint
Vintage Bavarian Wood Carving of the Infant Bacchus
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Vintage Bavarian wood carving of the infant bacchus Oberammergau is a world-famous wood carver town in Bavaria, Germany. Nikolaus Lang, a known art...
Fruitwood
Late 16thC French Wood Carving of a Female
Located in Malibu, CA
16th century artifact imported from Europe; a beautiful figure with patinaed painted wood. An alter piece with a hook on the back for hanging. Lovely adorn...
Wood
Hand-Painted Turquoise Fleur-de-Lis Decorative Wooden Box
Located in Bruton, GB
Decorative hand painted wooden box featuring a distinctive turquoise ground embellished with repeating fleur-de-lis motifs in warm brown tones. The hand-painted surface displays subt...
Hardwood
Italian Venetian Brass Seahorse Figures
Located in Queens, NY
Vintage Italian Venetian brass seahorse figures / gondola ornament
Brass
Miniature Altar with Mother Mary with infant Jezus in Renaissance style, 1657
Located in Gorssel, GE
Wooden miniature altar with Mother Mary with infant Jezus in Renaissance style. This altar - used for private devotion - was made in the 17th century a...
Wood
Unfinished study of head, Michelangelo sketch
Located in Houston, TX
Stunning vintage sketch of the unfinished head of Michelangelo piece. Done as a study by an artistic
Wood
A Pair Of French Carved Giltwood Reclining Lion Sculptures, Florentine, With Pad
Located in Dallas, TX
A Pair Of 17th Century Carved Giltwood Reclining Lion Sculptures, Florentine, With Padded Rests On Backs. 17th Century
Wood, Giltwood
Primitive Modernist Wood Sculpture of Female Nude
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Primitive Modernist Wood Sculpture Female Nude Unsigned - Artist Unknown Vertical Grain Douglas-Fir Geometric Carving near "Hip" "Nice Color and Grain" "Some minor scratches and dents"
Softwood
$3,800
H 34.375 in W 40.625 in D 2 in
18th Century French Louis XVI Musical Trophy Boiserie Panel in Carved Oak Frame
Located in Dallas, TX
Hand carved during the reign of Louis XVI, this linden wood and oak plaque was originally a boiserie panel that would have adorned the wall of a French manor...
Wood, Oak
$1,087Sale Price / set|52% Off
H 23.43 in W 7.09 in D 3.55 in
Pair of French 17th Century Weathered Oak Renaissance Ornaments
Located in Buisson, FR
Beautiful weathered oak Renaissance ornaments that most likely once adorned a half timbered house in Normandy. France, 17th century. Weathered, small losses Measurement here below a...
Oak
$585
H 17.92 in W 20.28 in D 0.08 in
Antique Hand Painted Double-Sided French Cafe Wall Trade Sign. c.1920
Located in London, GB
A mid-20th century hand painted French trade sign. c.1940 Double sided French trade sign for CAFES MAURICE, a company still in existence today. Wonderful patination and depth of col...
Metal
$3,650 / set
H 14.75 in W 25.75 in D 0.05 in
Pair of Antique French Renaissance Style Carved Wood Architectural Wall Panels
Located in Houston, TX
Great pair of well carved French Renaissance style or French Baroque style relief carved architectural walnut wooden panels or fragments from the 19th century. These beautifully carv...
Wood
$3,800
H 40 in W 30 in D 2 in
Rare 1880s Handmade Copper/Bronze Sign, Plaque "J.W.Williams Drop Forgings"
By E. N. Little & Sons 1
Located in Buffalo, NY
Rare 1880s handmade copper/bronze sign plaque "J.W.WILLIAMS DROP FORGINGS." Monumental sign/plaque salvaged from the turn of the century J W WILLIAMS factory in Brooklyn New York, ex...
Bronze, Copper
$1,602
H 38.59 in W 28.35 in D 1.19 in
Spanish Colonial South American Painting Virgin folk art 18th C
Located in London, GB
A Spanish colonial South American folk art style painting of the Virgin and child South American Peru or Bolivia school 18th century or earlier Oil on canvas, framed size 40 x ...
Paint
$576Sale Price|40% Off
H 11.42 in W 8.67 in D 2.56 in
18th Century French Carved Oak Panel Depicting An Angel On An Acanthus Curl
Located in Buisson, FR
Beautiful weathered oak panel depicting a baroque angel on an acanthus curl. Weathered and small losses, most likely it was once part of a larger panel. France circa 1750. treated ag...
Oak
Zinc and Gold Horse Head Butchers Trade Sign Flemish 1860
Located in Hastings, GB
19th century Flemish gilt zinc horse head trade sign. This beautiful hand made sign was used by a Flemish butcher and dates to circa 1860. There are still remnants of the beautiful g...
Zinc
18th Century French Pair of Oils on Gold Leaf Panels
Located in North Miami, FL
18th century French pair of oils on gold leaf panels. One is depicting an angel playing the violin, and the other one is holding the music book.
Gold Leaf
A 19th Century Italian Board of Porters Keys
Located in London, GB
Italy, circa 1890 An unusual mounted board of keys of varying shapes and designs, each inscribed in Italian, for various apartments. Height 73.00cm Width 65.00cm Depth 5.00cm
Wood
18th Century, Spanish Conquistador Carved Wood Figure
Located in Houston, TX
18th century Spanish Conquistador carved wood figure. 18th century Carved and painted wood Spanish Conquistador figure or sculpture. This beautif...
Wood
Sold
H 18.9 in W 28.35 in D 15.75 in
Strongbox Safe Chest Iron Painted Armada 12 bolt lock Nuremberg Renaissance
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
Rare, small, late-Renaissance, Nuremberg, iron, 'armada box', strongbox or travelling safe with its original, naïve, painted decoration on later sledge feet...
Iron
Rare 16th Century French Carving Depicting Prudentia
Located in Middleburg, VA
Rare 16th Century French Carving Depicting "Prudentia". Always depicted with a snake and a hand mirror, Prudentia was considered to be one of the four Cardinal Virtues. Sometimes scu...
Wood, Oak
15th century Florentine Sculpted Wooden Head of Christ
Located in Leesburg, VA
Head of Christ, fragment of a Lamentation group Possibly Maiano Workshop - Giovanni da Maiano (d. 1478) (?) Florence, Italy; probably late 1460s or early 1470s Presumably limewood; ...
Wood
1835 Blu Floral Painted Cabinet
Located in Vo', Veneto
Blue Tyrolean wardrobe dated 1835 H.182 – L.122 (135 at the frames) – P.43 (50 at the frames) Tyrolean painted cabinet with two doors, painted throughout with a blue background, featuring four framed panels on the doors, with a cream background, depicting bunches of flowers in cups and ribbons. On shoulders and notches, four other panels, with a brick-red background, contain a small floral decoration. The upper cornice is characterized by serrations and is shaped like an arch, and with it the doors. A second line...
Fir
17th Century Flemish Oak Devotional Figure of the Mourning Virgin Mary
Located in Leesburg, VA
The Mourning Virgin Probably South Netherlands, early 17th century Oak; approximate size: 36.5 cm (h) A 17th century oak figure of the Mourning Virgin carved...
Oak
Antique Folk Art Carved Wood Renaissance Man Scholar Statue Figure
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique folk art statue or sculpture featuring a Renaissance man wearing traditional attire holding a scroll. Size: 17".
Hardwood
Renaissance Style Italian Sgabello Chair ca. 1860
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A wonderful handcarved oak wood sgabello board chair - backrest and feet carved in Renaissance style with fantastic grimace, gargoyle and floral carvings, Italy ca. 1860. Measures: ...
Wood
Pair of Antique Carved Angel Figures
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Ca. 18th c. A fine pair of Antique Angel figures in flying poses, possibly part of an altar complex. In dark stained wood, each constructed in several pieces, with drapery falling ov...
Wood
Terracotta Santos Fragment
Located in London, GB
A rare 19th century terracotta Santos mask/fragment on a bespoke display stand. This religious, macabre artefact would likely have been a part of a full Santos statue which would ...
Terracotta
Italian Miniature Painting in Round Gilt Frame
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Italian miniature painting print framed in a circular gilt frame. Giclee painting framed, stamped made in Italy in the back, circa 1950. Please note that it is a very small "miniature" 4" diameter giclee print painting.
Paper
17th Century Italian Bronze Fragment, Antique Renaissance Sculpture
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique Italian bronze fragment from a late Renaissance fountain, which was later installed on a square limestone base, in good condition. Wear con...
Metal, Bronze
Italian Miniature Painting in Round Gilt Frame
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Italian miniature painting print framed in a circular gilt frame. Giclee painting framed, stamped made in Italy in the back, circa 1950.
Paper