Medieval Beds and Bed Frames
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.
20th Century English Medieval Beds and Bed Frames
Oak
20th Century American Medieval Beds and Bed Frames
Iron
Early 20th Century French Medieval Beds and Bed Frames
Oak, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Medieval Beds and Bed Frames
Oak
19th Century Antique Medieval Beds and Bed Frames
Wood
19th Century American Antique Medieval Beds and Bed Frames
Walnut, Burl
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Medieval Beds and Bed Frames
Wood
2010s American Medieval Beds and Bed Frames
Mahogany
Late 20th Century American Medieval Beds and Bed Frames
Metal, Brass
19th Century American Antique Medieval Beds and Bed Frames
Mahogany, Poplar
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Medieval Beds and Bed Frames
Brass
1720s Spanish Antique Medieval Beds and Bed Frames
Oak
16th Century Spanish Antique Medieval Beds and Bed Frames
Wrought Iron
Early 1900s French Antique Medieval Beds and Bed Frames
Walnut
2010s Medieval Beds and Bed Frames
Mahogany
Early 20th Century French Medieval Beds and Bed Frames
Upholstery, Beech
Late 19th Century French Antique Medieval Beds and Bed Frames
Gold Leaf
Late 19th Century British Antique Medieval Beds and Bed Frames
Iron, Brass
Mid-19th Century Antique Medieval Beds and Bed Frames
19th Century American Antique Medieval Beds and Bed Frames
Brass, Wrought Iron
1970s English Vintage Medieval Beds and Bed Frames
Oak, Braid
Mid-19th Century French Antique Medieval Beds and Bed Frames
20th Century Medieval Beds and Bed Frames
Brass
Early 20th Century French Medieval Beds and Bed Frames
Oak
16th Century English Antique Medieval Beds and Bed Frames
Oak
Late 19th Century English Antique Medieval Beds and Bed Frames
Brass, Iron
Early 20th Century Spanish Medieval Beds and Bed Frames
Mahogany