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.
SUBLIME FULLY RESTORED GOTHIC WINDSOR STEEPLE BACK BURR YEW & ELM ARMCHAiR
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this very fine fully restored Burr Yew & Elm Vintage Gothic style Steeple back Windsor armchair Please note the delivery fee list...
Elm, Yew
Set of Six Antique Italian 17th-18th Century Rocchetto Chairs
Located in Milano, IT
A rare and elegant set of six antique Italian chairs dating back to the 17th-18th centuries, crafted with exceptional artisan skill. These chairs are a magnificent example of the Roc...
Leather, Wood
FOUR FINE FULLY RESTORED GOTHIC WINDSOR STEEPLE BACK BURR YEW & ELM ARMCHAIRs
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this very fine suite of four fully restored Burr Yew & Elm Vintage Gothic style Steeple back Windsor armchairs Please note the d...
Elm, Yew
A rare pair of large-scale 18th century George II architectural corner chairs
Located in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
A rare and impressive pair of large-scale 18th century George II architectural form mahogany corner chairs. Each chair with a horseshoe-shaped top rail incorporating outscroll arms,...
Mahogany
$2,600Sale Price|20% Off
H 36.5 in W 17 in D 16 in
18th Century Balloon Back Original Red Painted Windsor Chairs-Pair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
18th century original red painted bow back Windsor chairs from New England in fine condition. These chairs have a nice deep red painted surface and wonderful patina. Found in Pennsyl...
Wood
Set Of 4 19th Century Windsor Wheelback Chairs
Located in Brussels, Brussels
A fine set of four 19th-century English Windsor chairs in chestnut with a wheelback . Very beautiful model called wheelback with a decoration on the back. Very beautiful set which h...
Oak
Set of Six English Windsor Chairs
Located in Antwerp, BE
Six unusual and wonderful aged, worn patina chairs are in good condition.They look fantastic together as a set. The seat height of all seats is 18.5 in. (47 cm) The height of the armrest is 26.77 in. (68 cm) The two high back chairs are 37.79 in. (96 cm) high x 22.04 in. (56 cm) wide and seat height 18.50 in. (47 cm) x 22.04 in. (56 cm) deep. The other four Windsor chairs...
Wood
Set Of 6 19th Century Kitchen Farmhouse Dining Chairs
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A Charming Set Of 6 Early 19th Century Matching Ash & Elm Farmhouse Kitchen Windsor Dining Chairs, Having Scribed Edge To Typical Hooped Backs, With Elegant Turned Stick Spindles And...
Ash, Elm
18th Century Bentwood Windsor Chair
Located in Stockton, NJ
An interesting late 18th century elm Windsor chair. Interesting and rare continuous bentwood hoop back construction.
Wood
18th c. American Sack Back Windsor Armchair
Located in Greenwich, CT
Late 18th or early 19th century American sack back Windsor armchair with historic green painted surface, the bow back supported by seven spindles over bentwood arm with shaped handho...
Ash
$2,097Sale Price / set|30% Off
H 36.75 in W 23.25 in D 23.25 in
Set of Four Amish Handcrafted Maple Hoop Back Windsor Armchairs
Located in Germantown, MD
Set of Four Country English maple Hoop Back Windsor Armchairs handcrafted by the Amish artisans in Pennsylvania in the mid 20th century. Chairs were recently refinished and look gor...
Maple
18th c. English Comb Back Windsor Armchair
Located in Greenwich, CT
Rustic comb-back West Country Windsor armchair, having shaped crest over spindle back, the narrow arm with bentwood supports and turned spindles, the shallow seat over pole turned le...
Ash
$1,247Sale Price|30% Off
H 39.77 in W 22.45 in D 21.66 in
Antique 19th Century Ash & Elm Windsor Carver Elbow-Chair – Fine Quality
Located in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
Antique 19th Century Ash & Elm Windsor Armchair or Carver Elbow-Chair – Fine Quality An antique 19th-century Windsor armchair crafted from ash and elm, full of age, character, and p...
Ash, Elm
Elm Windsor Chair
Located in Swadlincote, GB
A very nice stick back elm windsor chair, turned legs, in good overall condition with a lovely colour. 38.5" high 22" wide 14" seat depth 15" seat height You are welcome to view th...
Elm
Set 8 Windsor Chairs Yew Wood Farmhouse Stewart Linford
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Wonderful set of 8 Windsor chairs in yew wood Set consists of two arm chairs and six side chairs Classic farmhouse kitchen dining chairs Made by Stewart Linford please see signature ...
Wood
$2,895
H 35.5 in W 22.5 in D 20.5 in
English Windsor Armchair of Ash and Elm with Captain's Wheel Back
Located in Austin, TX
A fine Windsor armchair of elm and ash woods from Georgian era England, featuring a bowed top rail over a pierced splat with spoked captain's wheel and spindle back, elegant serpenti...
Wood, Ash, Elm
Sold
H 40.56 in W 25.2 in D 18.12 in
Pair of 18th Century George II Gothic Yew and Elm Windsor Armchairs, circa 1760
Located in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
The Windsor chair at its most elaborate and fine, the Gothic Windsor of yew wood and elm, circa 1760. England. It is, without doubt, the most sophisticated and elegant of all Windsor chairs and can be described as quintessentially English country furniture...
Elm, Yew
Fine Early 19th Century Yew Wood Regency Gothic Windsor Armchair
Located in Greenwich, CT
Rare early 19th century yew wood Windsor armchair with interlaced "Gothic" back over shaped seat, the turned legs joined by turned spindles and crinoline stretcher, the whole with rich and pleasing color. Note, while many examples of Regency period Gothic Windsor side chairs are recorded, the as are earlier Georgian Gothic...
Elm, Yew
Remarkable Pair of 18th Century Gothic Yewwood Windsor Chairs
Located in Greenwich, CT
A fine and rare pair of 18th Century yew wood gothic Windsor armchairs having hoop top rails over pierced splats with gothic tracery designs with hoop arms, deeply saddled elm seats ...