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.
Three Delft manganese tiles forming a portrait of a peacock, 18th century
Located in Honnelles, WHT
Three Delft manganese tiles forming a portrait of a peacock, 18th century
Earthenware
$3,150 / item
Taja Wall Mirror
Located in Milan, IT
Original Venetian mirror made in the strictest Murano tradition with a crest and a rich frame carefully engraved by hand. All assembled with crystal elements handmade in the Murano f...
Glass
Very Finely Carved Florentine Renaissance Revival Mirror
Located in Bronx, NY
A Florentine Renaissance revival gilded mirror, finely carved, illustrating a variety of botanical subjects.
Wood
Italian carved walnut 19th century Renaissance style Mirror
Located in Troy, NY
Very decorative Renaissance style mirror with two female figures in profile prominently flanking either side of the carved frame. Later mirror plate. Probably the top part of a firep...
Walnut
Large 17th Century Spanish Mirror In Polychrome Wood
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Superb and rare 17th century Spanish mirror in polychrome wood This is a niche that has been transformed into a mirror Very beautiful carv...
Fruitwood
Beautiful Portuguese Mirror Early 18th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Beautiful Portuguese Mirror Early 18th Century Frame in rosewood with gilded carvings. Signs of use for the age Dim.: 107 x 50 cm good condition
Wood
$5,165 / item
Fogo Glass Wall Mirror
Located in Milan, IT
Rectangular Venetian mirror, crafted in the most rigorous glassmaking tradition, finely hand-engraved on the bands by skilled master engravers. All elements are assembled with floral...
Glass
18th C Style Italian Cathedral Form Giltwood Mirror - 1 of 2
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
18th C Style Italian Cathedral Form Giltwood Mirror - 1 of 2 Available.
Giltwood
$4,125 / item
Tineo Wall Mirror
Located in Milan, IT
Precious rectangular Venetian mirror, made in the most rigorous Murano tradition, finely hand-engraved on all side elements. The central piece worked in mosaic transforms the mirror ...
Crystal, Gold
Renaissance Style Mirror, Marble Dust Patina, 20th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Renaissance style mirror in marble dust. The rectangular mirror with semicircular curvature in its upper part has been highlighted following these same lines with a frame finished i...
Other
Antique Rare Italian Venetian Etched Floral Glass Wall Mirror, Set of 2
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Rare Italian Venetian Etched floral glass wall mirror - set of 2 Beautiful Rare Venetian etched glass mirrors with hand blown glass dec...
Glass, Blown Glass
Pair of French Renaissance S-tyle Ormolu Wall Mirrors with Candelabra
Located in London, GB
Pair of French Renaissance style ormolu wall mirrors with candelabra French, 19th Century Height 75cm, width 41cm, depth 16cm Crafted from ormolu, or gilt bronze, in the charming an...
Ormolu
Antique Brass Renaissance Style Bevel Edged Wall Mirror, English, C.1910
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Fabulous brass mirror with aged verdigris patina Can be hung both as a diamond or a square Original mirror plate. The plate is slightly distressed / misty The measurement given is...
Brass
Spanish Sunburst Mirror in Leatherette with Convex Glasses
Located in Barcelona, ES
Renaissance Style Sunburst Convex Mirror, Leatherette Eye-catching sunburst mirror featuring a faux leather frame with 8 small convex glass mirrors surrounding a central convex glass...
Iron
$18,550 / item
Italian Venetian Murano Etched Paneled Wall Mirror
Located in Queens, NY
2 Italian Venetian Murano (modern) wall mirrors with nine rectangular panels and etched floral and scroll design border with gold applied glass flowers and spindle trim. (PRICED EACH)
Glass
Antique Dutch Brass and Ebonized Wood Mirror, circa 1860
Located in New Orleans, LA
Renaissance design.
Brass
French 19th Century Renaissance Style Finely Carved Giltwood Mirror
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking French 19th century Renaissance st. finely carved giltwood mirror. This remarkable mirror has the original mirror plate and is framed within an inner beaded border with ci...
Mirror, Giltwood
20th Century Venetian Murano Glass Flowers Octagonal Mirror
Located in Puglia, Puglia
It is a delightful classic Venetian mirror with a frame formed by canes and crystal curls, the engravings that adorn this luxurious mirror have been made entirely by hand, and the fi...
Art Glass, Mirror, Murano Glass
20th Century Venetian Murano Glass Gold Flowers Mirror
Located in Puglia, Puglia
It is a delightful classic Venetian mirror from the island of Murano in gold color with white gold flower finish, engraved and worked entirely by hand according to the Murano traditi...
Art Glass, Mirror, Murano Glass
$2,125 / item
Ghiri Wall Mirror
Located in Milan, IT
Classic oval Venetian mirror, made in the most rigorous Murano tradition. Finely hand-engraved on the elements of the bands, it is assembled with numerous floral elements in gold cry...
Glass
$3,545 / item
Baetto Wall Mirror
Located in Milan, IT
Elegant Venetian mirror made in the strictest Murano tradition with rich bands carefully engraved by hand. All assembled with crystal elements handmade in the Murano furnaces. Wooden...
Glass
$2,310 / item
Cin Cin Wall Mirror
Located in Milan, IT
A rectangular Venetian mirror with all the elements embellished with hand-engraved decorations as in the Murano tradition. The dark background color is obtained from special colors f...
Glass
$4,125 / item
Cappeo Wall Mirror
Located in Milan, IT
Venetian mirror made in the strictest Murano tradition with a crest and a rich frame carefully engraved by hand. All assembled with crystal/gold elements handmade in the Murano furna...
Glass
$10,500 / item
Primo Wall Mirror
Located in Milan, IT
Precious rectangular Venetian mirror, made in the most rigorous Murano tradition, finely hand-engraved with precious decorations on all the ground elements on the edges. It is assemb...
Glass
Period Italian Giltwood Renaissance Style Frame
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful Italian Renaissance style original giltwood frame. Late 19th century. Internal measurements cm 48.5 x 38. 5 It can be used either as small mirror or as frame. Every item o...
Wood
19th Century French Iron Gothic Mirror
Located in Sheffield, MA
A handsome and elegant antique Neo-classic Tuilleries Orangerie wall mirror with arched top made of hand crafted cast iron antique frame that o...
Metal, Iron
$5,155 / item
Mosaico Wall Mirror
Located in Milan, IT
Important rectangular Venetian mirror made in the strictest Murano tradition with a crest and a rich frame carefully engraved by hand on an antiqued glass. The central mosaic embelli...
Glass
19th Century Renaissance Wall Mirror by Ballario-Asti, Carved and Turned Walnut
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Italian Renaissance fireplace mirror or console mirror in hand carved and turned walnut by Ballario Matteo Mobili, Asti. Original beveled...
Mirror, Walnut
Italian Venetian Style Gilt and Polychromed Floral Wall Mirror
Located in Queens, NY
Italian Venetian-style (19th/20th Century) gilt and polychromed rectangular wall mirror with a carved floral frame.
Chrome
Italian Venetian Murano Etched Floral Design Wall Mirrors
Located in Queens, NY
Italian Venetian Murano (modern) wall mirror with etched floral and scroll design border, applied gold-dusted glass leaves, and spindle trim.
Glass
$100Sale Price / item|88% Off
Oval Tin Metal-Clad Mirror
Located in New York, NY
Oval metal-clad mirror. Measures: H 26" x (66cm) x W 19" (48cm). Oval bevelled mirror in centre. Clear mirror. Aged looking metal-clad. Slightly aged look to tin metal-clad. Ba...
Metal, Tin
$1,250Sale Price|35% Off
French "Miroir a Parecloses", a Bride's Mirror
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
A French "Miroir a Parecloses", also called a bride's mirror. Extensive patinated brass repose work of remarkable quality and detail. 3rd quarter 19th century in Mannerist taste. 24 ...
Brass
Monumental Scale Italian Large Convex Mirror
Located in London, by appointment only
A colossal continental giltwood large convex mirror, the broad frame richly carved with ripe fruits and foliage, the gilding restored and refreshed. Italy, 19th century Measure: 60 inches diameter.
Giltwood
19th Century French Hand-Carved Wall Mirror, Renaissance Style
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A 19th Century French Carved Mirror The oval glass inserted into a mixed wooden frame adorned with finely carved applications, the whole with leaves. Further carved elements include...
Hardwood, Glass
Mahogany Mirror with Carved Top
Located in Annville, PA
A Mahogany Mirror with Carved Top and Gold Leaf Details. This mirror has many elegant details throughout; including the original glass, the original finish,...
Mahogany
Antique French Neoclassical Gold Figural Gesso Large 76x54 Trumeau Floor Mirror
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Neoclassical Gold Figural Gesso Large 76x54 Trumeau Floor Mirror. Item features a large impressive size, gold gilt gesso figural details, maiden faces, urns and wreath...
Gesso, Glass
Gilded Mirror With Acanthus Leaf Decoration, 17th-century Italian Inspiration
Located in Paris, FR
Patinated gilded mirror in wood and stucco decorated with stylized acanthus leaf friezes inspired by 17th century Italian Renaissance. Gilding to the leaf. Made by Atelier RTCD...
Mirror, Stucco, Giltwood
Elegant Vintage Italian Borghese Hand Carved Giltwood Mirror
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Lovely vertical narrow giltwood mirror by Borghese, Italy.
Mirror, Giltwood
Antique Carved Wood Round Mirror, Renaissance Style, circa 1930
Located in Paris, FR
Antique wood round mirror Renaissance style, 1930 period. Antique carved wood. Adorned with columns, balusters, shells, macaroon. Antique glass mirr...
Mirror, Wood
$1,410 / item
Portuguese Rosewood Wall Mirror 18th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
PORTUGUESE ROSEWOOD WALL MIRROR 18th century Portuguese from the 18th century, rosewood veneer, carved and gilded wood, architectural cornice, winding and flower decoration. Defect...
Rosewood
$1,500 / item
Hand Carved Poplar Mirror Renaisance Style Frame
Located in New York, NY
Hand Carved Poplar Mirror Renaissance Style Frame H. 53" x W. 41"
Pine
Impressive Renaissance Blue Painted and Parcel Gilt Mirror
Located in Pembroke, MA
A large and unusual French blue-painted and gilded wood mirror, with finely-decorated giltwood detailing, detached giltwood columns, and egg and dart trim.
Glass, Wood
$18,334Sale Price|40% Off
Early 19th Venetian Rectangular Carved and Gild Mirror
Located in IT
This beautiful rectangular mercury mirror in carved and gilded wood frame was made in the early 19th century in Venetian area of Italy. The richly carved frame is characterized by a ...
Giltwood
Pair Small Renaissance Style Mirrors
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of octagonal, Renaissance style, ebonized wood, etched brass and gilded bronze framed mirrors inset with veneered semi-precious stones. Ornate gilded bronze detail features face...
Brass, Bronze
19th Century, Large Renaissance Style Oak Mirror Richly Carved
Located in Beaune, FR
Large and beautiful oak mirror carved with Renaissance-style scrolls that can be displayed vertically or horizontally. French work of the 19th century of good quality. Good condition.
Oak