Renaissance Benches
RENAISSANCE STYLE
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.
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Style: Renaissance
Antique French Carved Walnut Hall Bench Breton Brittany Pew Renaissance c1890
Located in Shreveport, LA
19th century French carved walnut hall bench Breton Brittany Pew Renaissance.
Direct from Brittany, France, an ornately hand carved antique French hall bench...
Category
1890s French Antique Renaissance Benches
Materials
Walnut
20th Century Spanish Renaissance Carved Walnut Bench Banquette "Escaño"
Located in Miami, FL
Stunning antique Spanish Renaissance walnut bench, called "escaño" in Spain, believed to date back to the early 19th century. Heavy pieces of solid walnut in back and seat with bevel...
Category
Early 20th Century Spanish Renaissance Benches
Materials
Walnut
Antique French Hall Bench Settle Renaissance Carved Oak Cherub Black Forest 1880
Located in Shreveport, LA
19th century French Hall Bench Settle Renaissance Carved Oak Cherub Black Forest.
Direct from France, a beautiful antique French hall bench, large enoug...
Category
1870s French Antique Renaissance Benches
Materials
Oak
Large Chippendale Bench
Located in Annville, PA
The Large Chippendale Bench is a high quality, solid mahogany large Chippendale style bench with upholstered drop in seat, shell carved knees on cabr...
Category
2010s Renaissance Benches
Materials
Mahogany
$690 / item
Antique French Canopy Hall Bench Large Renaissance Cathedral Carved Oak c1860
Located in Shreveport, LA
19th Century French canopy hall bench large Renaissance cathedral carved oak.
Direct from a cathedral in Antwerp, this superb, highly carved canopied bench...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Renaissance Benches
Materials
Oak
Pair of Italian Renaissance Wrought Iron Benches
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Italian Renaissance style (1940s) black painted wrought iron benches with cross form "X" legs with a stretcher having a round medallion supporting an open woven saddle seat (...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Renaissance Benches
Materials
Wrought Iron
$4,250 / set
Antique French Brittany Carved Oak Bench with 16th Century Portrait Panels 1560
Located in Portland, OR
A rare French/Brittany carved oak bench from the late 19th century, fitted with original carved French Renaissance portrait panels from circa, 1560.
The bench was constructed in Brit...
Category
16th Century English Antique Renaissance Benches
Materials
Oak
Early 19th Century Italian Carved and Hand-Painted Cassapanca Bench
Located in Dallas, TX
Add Italian visual drama into your home with this elegant antique colorful Cassapanca bench. Crafted in Italy, circa 1820 features a tall, commanding back and intricately carved apro...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Benches
Materials
Wood, Paint
Vintage French Bench in Wood, 1920
Located in Miami, FL
Beautiful French rustic sofa or bench from the early 20th century. This characterful sofa or bench is a country house piece of furniture in folk art with an unusual straight shape. T...
Category
Early 20th Century Spanish Renaissance Benches
Materials
Walnut
19th Century European Hand Painted Blanket Chest
Located in Sheffield, MA
19th C. paint decorated blanket box or coffer. The front panel has a later added decoupage which has since been partially lost. This antique trunk, with its rectangular-shaped body, ...
Category
19th Century European Antique Renaissance Benches
Materials
Metal
20th Century Spanish Renaissance Carved Walnut Bench Banquette "Escaño"
Located in Miami, FL
Stunning antique Spanish Renaissance walnut bench, called "escaño" in Spain, believed to date back to the early 20th century. The piece has a deep reliefs hand-carved back that featu...
Category
Early 20th Century Spanish Renaissance Benches
Materials
Walnut
$3,592 Sale Price
20% Off
Italian early 17th century painted Renaissance Cassone
Located in Troy, NY
Charming painted cassone with a lift top, the rounded front decorated with pastoral scenes, nicely worn and muted under the varnish, darkened by age.
Category
Early 1600s Italian Antique Renaissance Benches
Materials
Wood
19th Century French Walnut Bench
Located in High Point, NC
19th century carved walnut bench from France with a newly upholstered seat in linen and finished with welted decoration. The upholstered seat is scalloped and is enclosed in a molded...
Category
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Benches
Materials
Linen, Walnut
17th Century Spanish Baroque Savoy Hand Carved Chest Trunk
Located in Miami, FL
Nice 17th century chest in brown chesnut. Hand carved facade panel with geometrics decorations. Plinth with brace decorations, dovetail assembly with wrought iron wardware.
Add a re...
Category
Late 17th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Benches
Materials
Iron
Renaissance style chest, France, circa 1870.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Renaissance style chest, France, circa 1870.
Very good condition.
Wood: walnut
dimensions height 190 cm width 145 cm depth 55 cm
Category
1870s French Antique Renaissance Benches
Materials
Walnut
20th Century Spanish Renaissance Carved Walnut Bench Banquette "Escaño"
Located in Miami, FL
Stunning antique Spanish Renaissance walnut bench, called "escaño" in Spain, believed to date back to the early 20th century. The piece has a deep reliefs hand-carved back that featu...
Category
Early 20th Century Spanish Renaissance Benches
Materials
Walnut
19th Century Spanish Baroque Hand Carved Chest Trunk
Located in Miami, FL
Nice 19th century chest in brown chestnut. Hand carved facade panel with heads decorations. Plinth with brace decorations, dovetail assembly with wrought iron wardware.
Add a real s...
Category
1890s Spanish Antique Renaissance Benches
Materials
Iron
Antique 17th C. English Renaissance Carved Oak and Wrought Iron Bench Banquette
Located in Philadelphia, PA
17th Century English Renaissance Carved Oak and Wrought Iron Bench Banquette. Item features deep relief hand-carved back and legs which terminate at claw like front feet. The base is...
Category
17th Century Unknown Antique Renaissance Benches
Materials
Wrought Iron
Renaissance Style Giltwood Bench
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Renaissance style giltwood bench, circa 1920. This bench has excellent quality gilding, carved cupid heads, gargoyle faces and paw feet.
Category
1920s European Vintage Renaissance Benches
Materials
Gold Leaf
19th Century Pair of English Renaissance Walnut Rectangular Benches
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of English Renaissance style (19th Century) walnut rectangular bench with stretcher and double pedestal side with shaped corners (PRICED AS P...
Category
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Benches
Materials
Walnut
Italian Renaissance Oak Foot Stool
Located in Queens, NY
2 Italian Renaissance style oak rectangular foot stools with cane seat (priced each) (20th Cent.).
Category
20th Century French Renaissance Benches
Materials
Oak
$550 / item
Bench European Carvings 18th Century Rare Europe
Located in New York, NY
Bench rare European carvings 18th century rare Europe. A very rare bench made during 18th century in Europe. A few parts have been restored.
Category
Early 18th Century European Antique Renaissance Benches
Materials
Wood
Italian Renaissance Walnut Column Back Benches
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Italian Renaissance style (19th century) walnut turned column back benches with carved scroll arms.
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Benches
Materials
Walnut
$7,200 / set
Italian 20th Century Renaissance St. Wrought Iron and Ormolu Savanarola Bench
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking and most decorative Italian 20th century Renaissance st. wrought iron and ormolu Savanarola bench. The folding bench is raised by a beautiful X-shaped wrought iron base with fine circular mottled feet connected by a stretcher. Above are four striking baluster shaped ormolu supports with beautiful finely detailed foliate designs with ball shaped finials each displaying richly chased acanthus leaves on a hammered background with a wrap around twisted ribbon band and each connected by superb additional baluster shaped foliate arm supports. Atop each ball finial is the etched coat of arms of Cardinal Giuseppe Antonio Ferretto. All original gilt throughout.
Giuseppe Antonio Ferretto (9 March 1899 – 17 March 1973) was an Italian Cardinal born in Rome. In 1958 he was appointed Titular Archbishop of Serdica by Pope John...
Category
20th Century Italian Renaissance Benches
Materials
Wrought Iron, Ormolu
Antique Italian Renaissance Ornate Scrolled Iron Vanity Bench Newly Upholstered
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Italian Renaissance Ornate Gild Scrolled Iron Vanity Bench Newly Upholstered in Deep-Maroon Tufted Velvet
Super heavy and unique piece to add to your bathroom, closet or mak...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Benches
Materials
Iron
Antique Italian Renaissance Jacobean 6 Turn Carved Walnut Legs Upholstered Bench
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Italian Renaissance Jacobean 6 Turn Carved Walnut Legs Upholstered Bench. Item features a solid wood frame, beautiful wood grain, upholstered seat, nicely carved details, ver...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Renaissance Benches
Materials
Walnut
Vintage Italian Renaissance Style Double Curule X-Frame Settee Savonarola Bench
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Italian Renaissance Style Double Curule X-Frame Settee Savonarola Bench. Item features a solid walnut carved wood frame, stretcher base, double curved seats, red textured flo...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Renaissance Benches
Materials
Upholstery, Walnut
Addison Mizner Bronze and Wrought Iron Bench
By Addison Mizner
Located in Sarasota, FL
An Addison Mizner bench in bronze and wrought iron, circa 1920, from a Palm Beach estate in Florida. Features a frieze seat back decorated with gilt tritons and finely scrolled acant...
Category
Early 20th Century American Renaissance Benches
Materials
Bronze, Wrought Iron
Northern Italy Renaissance Cathedra with a Canopy
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
This cathedra or chayère chair is conceived following rules of monumental architecture. The seat can be lift open to reveal a chest. Both curved arm-rests are supported by a baluster...
Category
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Benches
Materials
Walnut
Renaissance Style Carved Bench or Coffee Table
Located in Sheffield, MA
A very handsome Renaissance style wooden bench rests on two shapely base supports connected by a horizontal stretcher. Use it as a coffee table, bench, stool or side table.
Category
Early 20th Century Renaissance Benches
Materials
Wood
English Renaissance Style Red Velvet Walnut Bench
Located in Queens, NY
English Renaissance style (19th Century) 6 legged walnut bench with stretcher and red velvet upholstered seat.
Category
19th Century British Antique Renaissance Benches
Materials
Walnut
Pair of French 19th Century Renaissance Style Patinated Dark Oak Benches
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An extremely handsome and most impressive pair of French 19th century Renaissance st. patinated dark oak benches, circa 1870. Each bench is raised by fi...
Category
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Benches
Materials
Oak
Renaissance benches for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Renaissance benches for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage benches created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating, case pieces and storage cabinets, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, walnut and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Renaissance benches made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Italy pieces for sale on 1stDibs. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for benches differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $495 and tops out at $26,955 while the average work can sell for $4,660.