Renaissance Furniture
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.
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Wood, Paint
Early 1900s Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Stone
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Wood, Paint
Late 19th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
20th Century Italian Renaissance Furniture
Wood
18th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Canvas, Paint
20th Century Italian Renaissance Furniture
Wood
Late 20th Century Italian Renaissance Furniture
Walnut, Hardwood
1790s Spanish Antique Renaissance Furniture
Iron
Mid-20th Century Italian Renaissance Furniture
Fir
1850s English Antique Renaissance Furniture
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Renaissance Furniture
Metallic Thread
20th Century Italian Renaissance Furniture
Wood
Late 20th Century Renaissance Furniture
Mahogany
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Wood
Early 17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Nutwood
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Renaissance Furniture
Wood
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Maiolica
18th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Metallic Thread
1850s English Antique Renaissance Furniture
Paper
17th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Furniture
Silver
2010s Italian Renaissance Furniture
Glass
2010s Italian Renaissance Furniture
Glass
1970s Vintage Renaissance Furniture
Earthenware
2010s Italian Renaissance Furniture
Glass
17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
1850s English Antique Renaissance Furniture
Paper
2010s Italian Renaissance Furniture
Crystal, Gold Leaf, Gold
2010s Italian Renaissance Furniture
Glass
16th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Furniture
Cotton
Mid-19th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Furniture
Brass
17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Wood
Early 1900s Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Stone
1890s French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
Late 19th Century European Antique Renaissance Furniture
Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Renaissance Furniture
Blown Glass
2010s Italian Renaissance Furniture
Glass
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century Italian Renaissance Furniture
Wood, Giltwood, Paint
2010s Italian Renaissance Furniture
Glass
19th Century Antique Renaissance Furniture
Majolica, Paint
20th Century Renaissance Furniture
Marble, Bronze
17th Century Dutch Antique Renaissance Furniture
Wood, Giltwood
2010s Italian Renaissance Furniture
Glass
16th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Furniture
Earthenware
Late 19th Century Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
Mid-17th Century Dutch Antique Renaissance Furniture
Iron
Late 18th Century Balkan Antique Renaissance Furniture
Iron
16th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Oak
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Pottery
2010s Italian Renaissance Furniture
Glass
Late 19th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Terracotta
16th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Furniture
Earthenware
Late 19th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
17th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Brass
17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
Mid-19th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Furniture
Brass
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Wood
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Maiolica
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Wood, Ivory, Felt
20th Century Italian Renaissance Furniture
Wood
Early 18th Century Dutch Antique Renaissance Furniture
Paper, Giltwood
18th Century Antique Renaissance Furniture
Ormolu
20th Century Italian Renaissance Furniture
Wood
20th Century English Renaissance Furniture
Metal
1980s Italian Vintage Renaissance Furniture
Art Glass, Murano Glass, Mirror
Early 19th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Furniture
Oak
Late 18th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Canvas, Paint
Early 20th Century French Renaissance Furniture
Glass, Walnut
Late 19th Century English Antique Renaissance Furniture
Metal