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.
Catalan, Colonial Spanish Carved Armchair with Leather, 19th Century
Located in Miami, FL
Renaissance style armchair from the Catalan region of Spain. Constructed from richly stained oak and leather, accented with wonderful nailheads.
Leather, Oak
Set of 6 English Renaissance Ornately-Carved Hall Chairs, Turn of 19th & 20th C
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English set of six Renaissance style elaborately carved hall chairs from the turn of the 19th and 20th century. This set of antique board chairs from England each have been ornately hand-carved in a series of grotesque figures, embellished with swags, volutes, leaves. An arched crest further adorns the toprail. Center backs show a shied entwined with helmet and arrows. The seats, with their decoratively trim carved edges, are raised by a pair of shapely legs consisting of two carved boards, with front leg board continuing the mythological them of the back. These turn of the century chairs...
Wood
$1,920Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century French Carved Walnut Turned Wood Armchair with Claw Feet
Located in Miami, FL
19th century carved walnut turned wood armchair. Perfect to place in your room or in your office with the table desk together. The frames with c...
Oak
Antique 19th C. Renaissance Revival Carved Walnut Figural Throne Side Chair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique 19th C. Renaissance Revival Carved Walnut Figural Throne Side Chair. Item features crewel work upholstery, figural carved back rest, solid wood frame, beautiful wood grain, f...
Walnut
Pair of Early 18th Century Renaissance Style Sgabello Hall Chairs
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A remarkable pair of oak and walnut hall chairs after the Italian Renaissance designs which were adapted by the English in the early 18th century. This form of decorative stool was s...
Oak, Walnut
19th C. Renaissance Wrought Iron Curule Savonarola Carpet Sling Side Chair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
19th Century Hand Wrought Iron Renaissance Savonarola Carpet Sling Curule Side Chair. Item features a hand wrought iron folding frame, desirable weathered finish, carpet "sling" seat...
Wrought Iron
English Renaissance Red Velvet Side Chair
Located in Queens, NY
English Renaissance style oak carved side chair with a square back and stretcher with red velvet upholstered seat and back
Oak
Antique Spanish Renaissance Carved Oak Wood Figural Leather Side Chairs - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Spanish Renaissance Carved Oak Wood Figural Leather Upholstered Side Chairs - a Pair. Chairs feature carved faces and brown distressed leather upholstery, very nice decorativ...
Leather, Oak
18th C. Italian Renaissance Lion Carved Walnut Sgabello Hall Chairs - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Pair of 18th Century Italian Renaissance Lion Carved Walnut Sgabello Hall Chairs. Item features solid wood construction, finely carved details of lions, royal crowns, and floral leaf...
Walnut
2 Similar Italian Renaissance Walnut Sgabelli Side Chairs
Located in Queens, NY
2 Similar Italian Renaissance style (17th Cent) walnut straight 4 legged sgabelli with V cut on back (PRICED EACH)(one with incised cross)
Walnut
$1,050Sale Price / set|30% Off
4 Antique Henry II Style Carved Dining Side Chairs Tooled Leather Upholstery
Located in Dayton, OH
Lot of four Henry II style dining chairs. Features a hardwood construction with carved and molded spindle backs. The chairs are supported by fluted legs with H stretchers and bun fee...
Leather, Hardwood
$1,250 / item
Italian Renaissance Walnut Sgabelli Stools
Located in Queens, NY
2 Similar Italian Renaissance style (17th Cent) walnut 3 legged sgabelli Stool with stretcher and "V" cutout in back. (PRICED EACH)
Walnut
$9,500 / set
English Renaissance Red Velvet Chairs
Located in Queens, NY
Set of 4 English Renaissance (17th-18th century) walnut joint leg side chairs with double front spool stretcher and red velvet upholstered seat and back.
Upholstery, Walnut
$1,500 / item
2 Italian Renaissance Sgabelli Side Chairs
Located in Queens, NY
2 Similar Italian Renaissance style (17th Cent) walnut curved 3 legged sgabelli with carved back and seat (PRICED EACH)
Walnut
English Renaissance Red Velvet Side Chair
Located in Queens, NY
English Renaissance style oak carved side chair with a shaped back and stretcher with a carved front panel under seat and upholstered in red velvet.
Oak
Pair of 19th Century French Henri II Style Carved Beech Side Chairs, Needlepoint
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This pair of mid nineteenth century French Henri II style hand carved beechwood side chairs features gold detailed lion heads at the top of the seat backs. Additional gold detailed a...
Upholstery, Beech
Italian Renaissance Beige Damask Side Chair
Located in Queens, NY
Italian Renaissance style (20th Cent) mahogany side chair with carved lion legs and a back carved crest & stretcher with a light beige damask upholstered back & seat
Mahogany
Pair of Italian Renaissance Style Walnut Side Chairs 19th Century
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A PAIR OF ITALIAN RENAISSANCE STYLE WALNUT SIDE CHAIRS 19TH CENTURY, INCORPORATING EARLIER ELEMENTS In solid walnut with straight seats, gilt acanthus leaf finials, carved front st...
Walnut
Renaissance-English Antique High Back Chair with Leather Straps
Located in Medina, OH
Renaissance-English Antique High Back Chair with Leather Straps. All straps/leather are in tact but you can see some wear due to age. Can confirm it will hold a 200lbs person. There ...
Leather
19th Century Set of Six French Carved Walnut Turned Wood Chairs with Velvet Seat
Located in Miami, FL
19th century carved walnut armchair. Perfect to place in your room or in your kitchen The frames with carved structure. The legs are finished in a higly carved. ball feet. It has ...
Velvet, Walnut
$3,120Sale Price / set|20% Off
19th Century Set of Four French Carved Walnut Turned Wood Chairs with Claw Feet
Located in Miami, FL
19th century carved walnut armchair. Perfect to place in your room or in your kitchen The frames with carved structure. The legs are finished in a higly carved claw feet. It has a...
Oak
Antique 19th C. Italian Renaissance Carved Walnut High Back Side Chairs - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Pair of Antique 19th C. Italian Renaissance Carved Walnut High Back Side Chairs. Item features a stretcher base, solid wood frame, nicely carved details, very nice antique item. Circ...
Walnut
Pair of Italian Renaissance Pine Sgabello Side Chairs
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Italian Renaissance style Venetian (20th Cent) pine carnival viewing sgabello style side chairs with a Pair carved heads on back.
Pine
18th Century Pair of Turned Chairs Renaissance Florentine in Walnut Wax Polished
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Very precious and hard to find pair of turned chairs Renaissance Florentine of the 18th century in dark walnut. Wax polished Measures cm: D...
Walnut
19th Century Set of Six French Carved Walnut Turned Wood Chairs with Velvet Seat
Located in Miami, FL
19th century carved walnut armchair. Perfect to place in your room or in your kitchen The frames with carved structure. The legs are finished in a higly carved. ball feet. It has a r...
Velvet, Walnut
19th Century French Carved Oak Turned Wood Armchair
Located in Miami, FL
19th Century carved oak turned wood armchair. Perfect to place in your room or in your office with the table desk together. The frames with barl...
Oak
19th Century Spanish Armchair
Located in Miami, FL
Renaissance style armchair from the Catalan region of Spain. Constructed from richly stained oak and leather, accented with wonderful nailheads.
Leather, Oak
Antique Italian Renaissance Carved Walnut Northwind Face Curule Side Chair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Italian Renaissance Carved Walnut Figural Northwind Face Curule Side Chair. Item features a carved face to base, pierce carved scrollwork back, paw feet, solid wood construct...
Walnut
Antique Renaissance Revival Lion Northwind Carved Walnut Figural Side Chair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Renaissance Revival Lion Northwind Carved Walnut Figural Side Chair. Item features pierced carved scrollwork back, lion/northwind carved face, nailhead trim, solid wood const...
Walnut
Antique Vanleigh Carved Oak Italian Renaissance Style Throne Dining Side Chair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Vanleigh Furniture New York Carved Oak Italian Renaissance Style Throne Dining Side Chair. Item features the original label, solid oak wood construction, beautiful wood grain...
Oak
Antique Renaissance Revival Lion Northwind Carved Walnut Figural Side Chair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Renaissance revival lion northwind carved walnut figural side chair. Listing includes a pierce carved scrollwork back, lion/northwind carved f...
Fabric, Walnut
Italian Renaissance Carved Wooden Turn-Legged Side Chair
Located in Queens, NY
Italian Renaissance-style carved wooden chair with spiral turned front legs and stretcher, rear saber legs, and a back featuring a painted white crest with a central black lion.
Wood
$2,800 / set
Pair of Italian Renaissance Sgabelli Side Chairs
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Italian Renaissance style (17th Cent) walnut Sgabelli with 4 turned legs and stretcher.
Walnut
Pair of Italian Venetian 19th Century Giltwood and Green Velvet Side Chairs
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Italian Venetian (19th Century) Baroque-Style carved giltwood side chairs with a pierced shaped back, shell & scroll carving, and forest green velvet upholstered seats, suppo...
Giltwood
$6,000 / set
Italian Renaissance Walnut Sgabelli
Located in Queens, NY
Set of 4 Italian Renaissance style (19th Cent) walnut sgabelli with 4 turned legs and double-eagle back. There are scratches on the seat.
Walnut
Set of 4 Italian Renaissance Black Leather Side Chairs
Located in Queens, NY
Set of 4 Italian Renaissance style oak high backed side chairs with black tufted leather backs & seats on porcelain casters (casters sgnd: R.Comb/Goodyear/1851)
Oak, Leather
3 Italian Renaissance style (17th Cent) green and gold painted & carved ladder b
Located in Queens, NY
3 Italian Renaissance style (17th Cent) green and gold painted & carved ladder back high back side chairs with rush seat. (PRICED EACH)
Rush, Wood
$18,000 / set
Pair of Italian Arm Chairs, circa 1800
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Tooled leather paneled backs with scroll finals, having straight arm supports above a leather and brass trim seat raised on square legs joined a g...
Leather, Walnut