Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities
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.
Late 19th Century French Antique Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities
Wood
Early 20th Century European Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities
Wood
Early 20th Century French Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities
Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century British Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities
Resin, Pine
19th Century Italian Antique Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities
Carrara Marble
Mid-20th Century Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities
Metal, Steel
Early 20th Century European Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities
Oak
1950s Polish Vintage Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities
Wood
Early 20th Century American Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities
Enamel
19th Century Spanish Antique Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities
Plaster
Mid-18th Century French Antique Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities
Oak
1870s French Antique Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities
Oak, Wood
Mid-20th Century French Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities
Wood
1950s Polish Vintage Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities
Sterling Silver, Brass
Early 20th Century American Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities
Brass
16th Century French Antique Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities
Oak
1950s Belgian Vintage Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities
Wood
15th Century and Earlier English Antique Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities
Stone
15th Century and Earlier German Antique Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities
Wood, Paint
1950s Belgian Vintage Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities
Wood
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities
Bronze, Iron
Late 19th Century Belgian Antique Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities
Wood
Early 20th Century Belgian Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities
Brass, Bronze
15th Century and Earlier Spanish Antique Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities
Other
Late 19th Century French Antique Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities
Wood
Early 19th Century English Antique Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities
Mahogany
Mid-18th Century Dutch Antique Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities
Wood
Mid-20th Century Dutch Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities
Metal
Early 20th Century North American Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities
Wood
15th Century and Earlier Dutch Antique Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities
Oak, Paint
18th Century Greek Antique Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities
Coral, Silver
19th Century British Antique Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities
Iron
Late 19th Century French Antique Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities
Wood