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.
$2,582Sale Price / set|25% Off
Pair of Spanish Renaissance Revival Carved Savonarola Chairs, Early 20th Century
Located in BÉTERA, ES
Beautiful pair of Spanish Renaissance Revival Savonarola chairs, crafted in solid wood and richly carved with scrolling vegetal motifs. The iconic X-frame silhouette, inspired by med...
Hardwood, Oak
Antique Renaissance Carved Lion Heads Curule Savonarola Style Chairs - a Pair
Located in Clifton Forge, VA
This is a wonderful pair of antique Renaissance Curule or Savonarola Style Chairs with carved loins heads beneath carved scrolls on the arm posts and a carved crest between the posts...
Wood
Antique Neo-Renaissance Throne Chair, France 1890s
Located in Meulebeke, BE
A striking Neo‑Renaissance throne chair from France, dating to the 1890s, distinguished by its sculptural presence and richly historic charact...
Leather, Oak
Set of an Italian Renaissance Walnut Armchair and Pair of Chairs
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This stunning set of an armchair and a pair of chairs is all made in solid walnut. This is an Italian Renaissance work. 17th century.
Walnut
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...
Walnut
$545 / item
Solid Mahogany Library Chair
Located in Annville, PA
The Solid Mahogany Library Chair, also known as a metamorphic chair as created by Niagara Furniture. This style of Solid Mahogany Library Chair was o...
Mahogany
$118,343 / set
Set of Four Italian Walnut Savonarola Armchairs
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Set of four Italian walnut Savonarola armchairs ORIGIN : FLORENCE, ITALY PERIOD : LATE 15TH CENTURY - EARLY 16TH CENTURY Measures: height : 102 cm 40.15 inches, height : 93 cm 36.61 inches length : 68 cm 26.77 inches, length : 68 cm 26.77 inches depth : 55 cm 21.65 inches, depth : 50 cm 19.68 inches Walnut Very good condition This movable Italian seat from the late 15th century descents from the roman curule seat. It took the name of sedia Savonarola...
Walnut
19th Century Continental Renaissance Style Savonarola Chair
Located in Houston, TX
19th Century Continental Renaissance Style Savonarola chair. Handsome antique Continental Renaissance style walnut Savroarola chair, side chair, armchair or throne chair. This beautifully carved Gothic style chair...
Walnut, Suede
Pair of Authentic Fortuny Venetian Textile Pillows with Velvet Backs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An elegant pair of decorative pillows crafted from authentic Fortuny textiles, produced in Venice, Italy, featuring a classic scrolling floral and architectural motif inspired by Ren...
Cotton, Velvet
Antique Italian Renaissance Figural Bird & Lion Carved Walnut Throne Chair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Italian Renaissance Figural Bird & Lion Carved Walnut Throne Arm Chair. Item features a high back, solid carved walnut frame with bird crest, pierce carved acanthus leaves th...
Walnut
Pair of 18th Century Wood and Leather Italian Antique Renaissance Chairs, 1770s
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
A pair of late 18th-century Italian chairs. Carved walnut furniture in Renaissance style with a seat and backrest in high-quality chiseled leather. The chairs are adorned with origin...
Leather, Wood
Antique French Carved Oak Corner Arm Chair Renaissance Louis XIV style
Located in Shreveport, LA
Antique French carved oak corner arm chair Renaissance Louis XIV style ~Direct from France~ ~Beautiful carving throughout this versatile antique Fren...
Oak
Italian Renaissance Walnut Throne Chair
Located in Queens, NY
19th century Italian Renaissance style walnut cardinal's throne chair with shell design canopy and column supports.
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
$3,592Sale Price|20% Off
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...
Walnut
19th Century Renaissance Style Chair
Located in Houston, TX
19th century Renaissance style chair. Handsome antique Continental Renaissance style or Gothic style walnut Savonarola chair, throne chair, si...
Suede, Fabric, Walnut
Antique Italian Oak Corner Chair Renaissance Style
Located in Poperinge, BE
Antique carved oak corner chair, Italian-made, entirely in Renaissance style, second half of the 19th century, circa 1880. This is an antique replica of an older model. The seat is ...
Velvet, Oak
French Renaissance Carved Walnut Armchair
Located in Woodbury, CT
This regal seat dates to the 16th century. The square seat and back contrasted by the blocked barley twist turnings that comprise the arms legs and stretcher. Well-carved recumbent l...
Silk, Walnut
Italian Renaissance Style Walnut Savonarola Folding Chair circa 1900
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian Renaissance style walnut Savonarola folding chair from circa 1900 with lion paw feet. This Italian Renaissance style Savonarola chair, dating back to circa 1900, is a sple...
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...
Iron
Pair of Spanish Renaissance Style Carved Wooden Armchairs
Located in BÉTERA, ES
Impressive pair of Spanish Renaissance–style armchairs, crafted in solid wood and richly decorated with hand-carved geometric and floral motifs inspired by 16th-century Spanish Renai...
Hardwood, Oak
$1,335 / item
Regency Green Leather Arm Chair
Located in Annville, PA
The Niagara Furniture Regency Green Leather Arm Chair with full grain leather upholstery combines a super simple design with sweeping lines and finely executed details to help make t...
Leather, Mahogany
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
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
French 16th Century early Baroque Oak Barrel-Back Seat
Located in Troy, NY
Tall, unusual and conceptual chair of half-round paneled form, The seat can be lifted on hinges forming a misericord supported by a fluted console. A a...
Oak
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...
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
French Regence Red Velvet Throne Chair
Located in Queens, NY
French Regence style (19th Cent) gilt throne chair with carved back crest and stretcher with red velvet upholstery
Velvet, Wood
$35,622
Renaissance "Chayère" Chair
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
This chayère chair of beautiful proportions stands on a rectangular box base enriched by vermiculure motifs executed in flat-plane. This base is topped by a moulding of strong gadroo...
Walnut
Antique portuguese armchair, late 18th / early 19th century
Located in Marinha Grande, PT
Spectacular portuguese armchair in carved wood. Late 18th / early 19th century. Solid wooden structure and beautiful carved with lots of details. The original fabric is torn on the s...
Wood
Pair of 19th Century Provincial Italian Renaissance Revival Sgabello Hall Chairs
Located in Forney, TX
A pair of antique, circa 1830, Italian Renaissance style hand carved walnut sgabello hall chairs. Hand-crafted in Provincial Italy, most likely ...
Walnut
$7,075 / set
Set of 10 Inlaid Shield Back Chairs
Located in Annville, PA
This set of 10 Inlaid Shield Back Chairs by Niagara Furniture features 2 arm chairs and 8 side chairs. These shield back chairs are taller than many...
Mahogany
Antique Spanish Renaissance Style Throne Arm Chair
Located in Sheffield, MA
This Spanish walnut throne chair with a large wide seat made circa 1700. Made from well carved but simply done walnut the chair is centered on a leather covered seat and back with large antique nail heads...
Leather, Wood
Danish Renaissance Handcrafted Armchair of Solid Oak with New Sheepskin 1940s
By Henning Kjærnulf, Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Silkeborg, Silkeborg
Danish handcrafted armchair of solid oak, made in the 1940´s by a Danish cabinetmaker. The sculptural chair is richly hand-carved mounted with french cane in the middle piece of the ...
Sheepskin, Oak
$35,000Sale Price|30% Off
18 Monumental Antique Italian Renaissance Figural Mahogany Leather Dining Chairs
Located in Dayton, OH
Exceedingly Rare Italian Renaissance Revival style high back mahogany dining chairs, circa 1850-1870s. Each chair is hand carved with an arched and scrolled high back centered by a scalloped shell. The sides showcase figural high relief maidens mirrored...
Leather, Mahogany
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...
Walnut
$1,975 / item
Brown Leather Arm Chair
Located in Annville, PA
A fine quality Brown Leather Arm Chair from Niagara furniture featuring a solid mahogany frame and full grain genuine leather. We had so many requests for our traditional fireside c...
Leather, Mahogany
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, ...
Metal
Pair of Neo-Renaissance-Style Armchairs, circa 1860, 19th Century.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of Neo-Renaissance-style armchairs, circa 1860, 19th century. Pair of carved walnut armchairs, circa 1860, Neo-Renaissance style, featuring putti and foliage motifs, with exqui...
Walnut
Antique Henry II Dining Chairs, Leather & Wood, Late 19th Century
Located in High Point, NC
Elevate your dining space with this elegant set of four Henry II style dining chairs, expertly crafted with hardwood construction. The chairs showcase intricate carved and molded spi...
Leather
$2,805 / item
Leather Swan Arm Chair
Located in Annville, PA
This high end Leather Swan Arm Chair from Niagara Furniture is impressive with solid mahogany hand carved details as well as the full grain genuine leather upholstery. A great designer look with a solid and comfortable frame. Inspired by an antique chair...
Leather, Mahogany
English Renaissance Wainscot Arm Chair
Located in Queens, NY
English Renaissance (17th Cent) Wainscot style oak arm chair with diamond designed carved back. (rePairs to back)
Oak
PAIR OF HIGH-BACKED CHAIRS Portuguese, 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
PAIR OF HIGH-BACKED CHAIRS Portuguese, 19th century, in carved and turned chestnut wood, seats and backs in tooled leather with studs. Signs of use. Dimensions: 141 x 55 x 43 cm G...
Wood
$1,709Sale Price / item|20% Off
Renaissance Armchair, Italy, Second Half of the 17th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Renaissance armchair out of walnut, seat and backrest are covered with a brown leather and riveted. The chair stands on straight square legs that are connected on each side. The stra...
Leather, Walnut
$1,479 / set
Fauteuil Curule En Fer Forgé Et Bronze
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Superbe fauteuil curule en fer forgé et bronze Très élégante fauteuil en fer forgé de belle qualité. Il est décoré de toupilles et boules en bronze dorées. De plus les deux accotoir...
Wrought Iron
$7,599Sale Price / set|20% Off
Late 19th Century Italian Renaissance Style Carved Walnut Pair of Throne Chairs
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Impressive rare pair of throne chairs in perfect Italian Renaissance style, late 19th century. Made of solid walnut wood. The finely carved wooden backrest with very complex decorati...
Faux Leather, Walnut
Italian 17th Century Walnut and Leather Armchair
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This Italian armchair from 1680 may look like a throne, in fact it is a wonderfully patinated example of a friar’s chair–historically referred to as a “ s...
Metal
Chair Stool Hall Sgabello Pair 16 Century Venetian Renaissance Carved Sculpture
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
The quality of these exhuberant backstools demonstrate why Italian Renaissance furniture was as highly prized as old-master paintings. Th...
Walnut
Early 19th Century Swedish Carved Oak Bench
Located in Round Top, TX
Oak high back bench with detailed carving. Birds, fruit basket, flowers, winged male figures, and carved flourishes are seen throughout the back. Note the seat is hinged, creating gr...
Oak
Early 18th Century Hand Carved with Figures Italian Renaissance Armchair
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous hand carved armchair with Figures carved on each arm post. Detailed and all mortise and tenon construction with wood pegs locking it tightly together. Flat back panel with a...
Walnut
$2,475 / item
Leather Fireside Chair
Located in Annville, PA
The Niagara Furniture Green Leather Fireside Chair is designed after an American original antique chair and ships out covered in full grained tufted genuine leather with brass nail t...
Leather, Mahogany
Danish, Mid-20th Century, Carved Oak Footstool with Red Leather Seat, 1950s
Located in Odense, DK
An elegant antique-style stool or footstool, this piece features a finely carved wooden frame and traditional detailing that evokes the refined aesthetics of the Neo-Renaissance peri...
Metal
$2,475 / item
Leather Fireside Chair
Located in Annville, PA
The Niagara Furniture Leather Fireside Chair is designed after an American original antique chair and ships out covered in full grained tufted genuine l...
Leather, Mahogany
$1,335 / item
Regency Leather Arm Chair
Located in Annville, PA
The Niagara Furniture Regency Brown Leather Arm Chair with full grain leather upholstery combines a super simple design with sweeping lines and finely executed details to help make t...
Leather, Mahogany
Set of 8 English Renaissance Paw Foot and Narrow Cane Back Side Chairs
Located in Queens, NY
SET of 8 English Renaissance style side chairs with narrow caned backs, carved walnut frames and beige upholstered seats (PRICED AS SET)
Cane
Italian Renaissance-Style Walnut Armchair
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Italian Renaissance-Style Walnut Armchair (18th/19th Century), Italy This exquisite armchair, crafted in the Italian Renaissance style, is a true testament to timeless design and m...
Leather, Walnut
Pair of 19th Century carolean inspired hall chairs
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Unusual pair of carolean inspired hall chairs circa 1880. Made from earlier 18th century elements. Carved back rests with inlaid floral plaques. Slight differences in carvings pleas...
Walnut
19th Century Barely Twist Butternut Arm Chair with Carved Lions Heads
Located in Louisville, KY
A chair like this doesn't come along everyday. With its unique white walnut barley twist frame and arms that terminate at the hand rest with hand-carved resting lions, this piece is ...
Walnut
17th Century Louis XIII Armchair
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
During the first half of the seventeenth century chairs evolve towards a new model today known as Louis XIII foreshadowing the armchair. Chairs adopt a widen and lower silhouette. Horizontal lines prevail. Cushions disappear supplanted by horse hair upholstery. This chair stands on four feet linked by an H-shaped spacer and a frontal cross-bar. Legs, spacers, cross-bar and arm-rests are all turned as rosary beads...
Walnut
American Fireside Chair and Ottoman
Located in Annville, PA
An extremely popular American Fireside Chair and ottoman designed after an original antique chair and ottoman. This reproduction antique has al...
Mahogany