Renaissance Seating
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.
Late 18th Century Portuguese Antique Renaissance Seating
Brass
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Seating
Wood, Walnut
17th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Seating
Velvet, Walnut
Early 20th Century Unknown Renaissance Seating
Walnut
Late 19th Century French Antique Renaissance Seating
Velvet, Oak
Late 19th Century French Antique Renaissance Seating
Oak
Late 19th Century French Antique Renaissance Seating
Velvet, Walnut
20th Century British Renaissance Seating
Oak
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Seating
Velvet, Walnut
2010s Renaissance Seating
Mahogany
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Seating
Walnut
2010s Unknown Renaissance Seating
Leather, Mahogany
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Seating
Walnut
17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Seating
Walnut
17th Century Unknown Antique Renaissance Seating
Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century Italian Renaissance Seating
Walnut, Upholstery
17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Seating
Walnut
Late 19th Century French Antique Renaissance Seating
Velvet, Walnut
2010s Renaissance Seating
Mahogany
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Renaissance Seating
Walnut
18th Century Portuguese Antique Renaissance Seating
Wood
19th Century Antique Renaissance Seating
Gold
Early 20th Century Spanish Renaissance Seating
Leather, Oak
1920s Danish Vintage Renaissance Seating
Fabric, Wood
17th Century French Antique Renaissance Seating
Walnut
1910s Danish Vintage Renaissance Seating
Oak, Fabric
17th Century British Antique Renaissance Seating
Oak
20th Century Italian Renaissance Seating
Mahogany
Early 20th Century Italian Renaissance Seating
Walnut
Early 1900s French Antique Renaissance Seating
Walnut
Early 1900s Antique Renaissance Seating
Oak
19th Century Portuguese Antique Renaissance Seating
Wood
19th Century British Antique Renaissance Seating
Walnut
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Seating
Early 18th Century Portuguese Antique Renaissance Seating
Wood
Early 20th Century American Renaissance Seating
Upholstery, Oak
20th Century Italian Renaissance Seating
Pine
Early 20th Century American Renaissance Seating
Leather, Wood
20th Century Italian Renaissance Seating
Wood
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Seating
Walnut
20th Century Italian Renaissance Seating
Upholstery, Walnut
20th Century Renaissance Seating
Velvet, Oak
18th Century English Antique Renaissance Seating
Walnut, Upholstery
18th Century Slovak Antique Renaissance Seating
Wood
Early 20th Century American Renaissance Seating
Bronze, Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century European Renaissance Seating
Fabric, Walnut
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Seating
Walnut
1890s English Antique Renaissance Seating
Tapestry, Oak
Early 1600s English Antique Renaissance Seating
Oak
19th Century Unknown Antique Renaissance Seating
Oak, Leather
19th Century Portuguese Antique Renaissance Seating
Wood, Rosewood
1920s Danish Vintage Renaissance Seating
Fabric, Wood
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Seating
Walnut
19th Century Antique Renaissance Seating
Oak
17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Seating
Velvet
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Seating
Bronze
17th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Seating
Walnut
1920s French Vintage Renaissance Seating
Fruitwood