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.
Rare & Beautifully Hand-Carved Antique Dutch Arts & Crafts Beveled Wall Mirror
Located in Lisse, NL
Striking wall mirror with handcarved geometrical 'flowers' and trefoil symbols. Via one of our foreign contacts we recently purchased this perfectly fine and deeply handcarved, sc...
Mirror, Wood
$680Sale Price|45% Off
Ornate Gothic Style Gilded Mirror with Cherub and Masks
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Dramatic Gothic style aged mirror having central cherub at the top, ornate frame and two mask like faces on each side. Mirror has natural spiderwebs and mercury with fabulous moody ...
Gesso, Wood
Brown wrought iron table mirror
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Brown wrought iron table mirror
Iron
$2,056Sale Price|20% Off
Spanish Revival Wall Mirror with Medieval Knight Shaped Frame in Walnut Wood
Located in Barcelona, ES
Stunning Medieval Inspired wall mirror, Carved Walnut Wood, Spain, 1930s. One of a kind carved walnut mirror framed by a spanish knight. This finely car...
Wood, Walnut
19th Century Antique Gothic Arch Window Mirrors with Distressed Glass
Located in Kent, CT
A pair of 19th-century cast iron church windows fitted with heavily distressed mercury glass style mirrors. Textured surface with rust-colored patina.
Iron
Italian Gothic Mirror Console by Paolo Lumini, 1920s Gold Leaf
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Italian Gothic gold leaf mirror console with black marble top 1920s. Statement piece completely cover in gold leaf by Paolo Lumini, he restored the all piece giving a a completely f...
Marble
Antique Gothic Style French Gilt Bronze Arch Form Vanity Table Mirror
Located in New York, NY
Elegant and stylish, Gothic style gilt bronze vanity mirror. France, 19th century Beautiful antique gold patina, fine details, unusual trefoil foliate and berry design. Well propo...
Bronze
Portal Mirror – Hand Carved Modern Gothic Style Polished Bronze Wall Mirror
By Realm
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Inspired by ancient mirrors, the Portal Mirror is imbued with tarnished aura. Inviting onlookers to the fantastical vision of Realm, this mirror adds a decadent and ritualistic ambia...
Bronze
19th Century Original Painted Gothic Mirror
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Wonderful early 19th century English original painted Gothic mirror. 1830. Code: 8667 Dimensions: W: 31.5" (80 cm) H: 98" (248.9 cm) D: 5" (12.7 cm)
Mirror, Pine
Italian Hall Foyer Wall Mirror with Gold Giltwood Frame
Located in New York, NY
A tall slender Italian mirror with a gold giltwood frame in the Gothic design style, circa early to mid-20th century, Italy. A great mirror for a vanity, hall, foyer, etc., where a tall slender mirror...
Mirror, Giltwood
Rare Antique French Wrought Iron Mirror, Gothic Style, circa 1950
Located in Paris, FR
Antique French Brutalist-style mirror, in patinated and hammered wrought iron, Gothic inspiration, circa 1950. Wrought-iron mounting bracket. Frame width: 5 cm / 1.96 in. Antique gla...
Metal, Iron, Wrought Iron
English Oak Gothic Style Dressing Table Mirror with Castellated Top
Located in London, GB
An English oak Gothic style dressing table or chest of drawers mirror with castellated top and carved seed pod details below, with dowelled construction and through pegged joints to ...
Oak
Strawberry Hill Gothic Overmantel
Located in Sturminster Marshall, Dorset
A carved gilt-wood gothic design triple plate overmantel mirror, inspired by the style and decoration of the Long Gallery at Strawberry Hill. Please note we are currently working to...
Giltwood
Strawberry Hill Robert Adam Round
Located in Sturminster Marshall, Dorset
A carved, gilt-wood geometric Gothic design circular wall mirror inspired by the ceiling decoration by Robert Adam, from the formal drawing room set within Walpole’s Gothic villa. P...
Giltwood
Strawberry Hill Gothic Pier Mirror
Located in Sturminster Marshall, Dorset
A carved gilt-wood Gothic design pier mirror inspired by the style and decoration of The Long Gallery at Strawberry Hill. Please note we are currently working to a 30-36 week lead t...
Giltwood
Strawberry Hill Gothic Overmantel
Located in Sturminster Marshall, Dorset
A carved gilt-wood Gothic overmantel mirror, replicated directly from the looking glass in the Holbein room at Strawberry Hill. Please note we are currently working to a 30-36 week ...
Giltwood
Gothic Carved Oak Oval Mirror, 19th Century, Floral Frame
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Gothic Carved Oak Oval Mirror A lovely piece, the wide frame has a beautifully carved border decorated with Roses and a crown at the top. The mirror is in good condition, the frame ...
Oak
Vintage Boho Punch Cut Phoenix Mirror
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Make a bold statement with this stunning vintage punch-cut Phoenix mirror, an artistic fusion of intricate metalwork and mythical inspiration. Featuring a highly detailed punched met...
Metal
Antique Wrought Iron Mirror with Ornate Patterning
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An antique ornately round wrought iron mirror. This impressive mirror is decorated with arched trefoils and twisted detailing, that would make an elegant showpiece in any space. Th...
Mirror
"Dragons & Roses" Wrought-Iron Mirror - France, Early 1900's
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Decorative mirror in a wrought-ion frame decorated with "repousse" dragons on either side, and lovely wrought-iron roses.
Metal
17th C Style Roman Castle Giltwood Frieze Mirror By Gustav Carroll
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
17th C Style Roman Castle Giltwood Frieze Mirror By Gustav Carroll
Giltwood
1970s Heraldic Mirror in Wrought Iron
Located in Manzano, IT
Add a touch of medieval charm and character to your room with this gorgeous shield-shaped mirror, a true vintage design object from the 1970s. Perfect for decorating living rooms, pr...
Wrought Iron
Strawberry Hill Gothic Pier Glass
Located in Sturminster Marshall, Dorset
A carved gilt-wood pier mirror with cluster form columns supporting a carved Gothic foliate arch top, inspired by Robert Walpole’s library. Please note that we are currently working...
Giltwood
Spanish Neogothic Style Gilded Iron Mirror with Two-Headed Dragon
Located in Benalmadena, ES
Imposing gilded iron mirror with a spectacular Spanish Neogothic design, featuring a majestic two-headed dragon. This piece is a masterpiece of handcrafted ironwork, with an elaborat...
Iron
Late 19th Century French Gothic Arched Giltwood Cathedral Style Mirror
Located in Birmingham, AL
A stunning late 19th century French Gothic arched giltwood mirror having a cathedral style silhouette and original mirrror glass, circa 1890s. T...
Mirror
Vintage Gothic Renaissance Large Wrought Iron Metal Arched "Spear" Wall Mirror
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Gothic Renaissance Style Large Wrought Iron Metal Arched Wall Mirror with Pointed Top and "Spear" Finials. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 80" H x 43" W x 1" D. Mirror ...
Wrought Iron
Large French Gothic Style Carved Oak Wall Mirror An ideal piece for the hall
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Large French Gothic Style Carved Oak Wall Mirror An ideal piece for the hall, a tall mirror, with twisted rope carving and a very unusual waisted shape to the sides. This one would ...
Oak
Large Heavily Carved French Oak Gilt Cushion Mirror
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Large Heavily carved french oak gilt cushion mirror A lovely Cushion mirror in carved gilt Oak, the 7” wide frame is set with mirrors and intric...
Oak
A 19th Century Gothic Carved Oak Mirror The Oak mirror frame is 6” wide
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A 19th Century Gothic Carved Oak Mirror The Oak mirror frame is 6” wide and carved in the gothic style typical of this time The heavy bevelled glass mirror has a wonderful sparkle, ...
Oak
19th Century Bleached Oak Gothic Mirror
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
Decorative 19th Century bleached oak Gothic mirror. With original bevelled mirror plate.
Oak