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.
A Very Large Carved Oak Green Man Sideboard A superbly Gothic piece
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A Very Large Carved Oak Green Man Sideboard This superbly Gothic piece is decorated in a country house style, as there are many patterns to the car...
Oak
French 19th Century Gothic Long Cabinet "deux-corps"
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Outstanding piece, Vey tall with a beautiful movement of the wood at the back top. So did deferent and powerful.
Walnut
Early 16th century German Gothic Cabinet / Sideboard
Located in Troy, NY
Early 16th century German Gothic Cabinet / Sideboard. Very attractive, rare and large Gothic cabinet / sideboard with three drawers over two doors, constructed in three parts shelved interior. Beautiful Gothic tracery...
Wood
Superb Serpentine Mahogany Sideboard
Located in Swadlincote, GB
A wonderful quality serpentine four door and three drawer mahogany sideboard, with oval inlaid panels, swan necked brass handles, standing on outsept bracket feet, in overall fine co...
Mahogany
$3,780Sale Price|36% Off
H 85.04 in W 59.06 in D 25.2 in
French Oak Cabinet Deux Corps Buffet Renaissance Revival, Mid 19th Century
Located in Labrit, Landes
Buffet deux corps French cabinet, circa 1830 Renaissance style, solid oak Nice patina Good antique condition Shipping: 2packs: Pack 1: P 64/L 149/H 94 cm 62 kg Pack 2: P 49/L 49/H...
Oak
$2,800
H 43.31 in W 59.45 in D 16.93 in
Mid-Century Cabinet / Sideboard in Teak & Oak, Danish Cabinetmaker, 1960s
Located in Odense, DK
Lovely rare cabinet in teak & oak. Made by a Danish Cabinetmaker in 1960s. Highlighted details and plenty of shelves featured in this beautiful cabinet. A fine vintage object that will complement many interior styles. A modern, classic, art deco or Scandinavian home deco. With a heavy focus on functionality, this design style leans toward modernism, while incorporating coziness. The Scandinavian design style aims to provide a way for people to live more sustainably and in harmony with one another. Honorable mentions with similar designs; Jakob Kjær...
Oak, Teak
French Alpine Rustic Folk Art Cabinet, France 19th Century
Located in Aartselaar, BE
This 19th-century French Alpine rustic folk art cabinet embodies the charm and authenticity of traditional mountain craftsmanship. Handcrafted from solid oak wood, its surface bears ...
Wood, Oak
19th Century French Buffet a Deux Corps or Sideboard
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th century French buffet à deux corps from the town of Caux in Normandy, made of solid oak with raised panels and chapeau de gendarme crown with carved details. Buffet provides a...
Brass
Sideboard in Carved Oak, Spain, 1940s
Located in Split, Splitsko-dalmatinska županija
Severe yet elegant, this Spanish buffet from the 1950s asserts a bold, architectural presence—its façade carved in a rhythmic grid of relief panels, each block subtly irregular, like...
Oak
Sideboard in Carved Oak, Spain, 1940s
Located in Split, Splitsko-dalmatinska županija
With the solemnity of an ancestral wall and the quiet poise of light brushing against stone, this Spanish sideboard expresses a tectonic language of austere form and architectural rh...
Oak
Large, carved, sideboard by Bodafors
By SMF Svenska Möbelfabriken Bodafors
Located in Chesham, GB
A substantial cabinet or side board, full of character, with ornate carvings by Swedish furniture manufacturer, AB Svenska Möbelfabrikerna i Bodafors. The cabinet features a horizo...
Wood
19th Century Italian Painted Cabinet
Located in San Angelo, TX
A beautiful blue toned painted Italian cabinet that features two doors. This piece is perfect for any design space, use in an entry way with a mirror or painting above it and decorat...
Wood, Paint
$2,806
H 91.74 in W 54.73 in D 17.72 in
French Pine Patinated Cabinet Deux-Corps Buffet Louis XVI Style Mid 19th Century
Located in Labrit, Landes
Buffet deux corps French cabinet, early 19th century Renaissance style, solid pine (recent) Nice patina Good antique condition Shipping: 2packs: Pack 1: 130 / 45 / 89 cm 47.5 kg P...
Pine
Antique 16th century Spanish carved cabinet in oak
Located in Meulebeke, BE
Spain / 16th century / cabinet / oak / Rustic / Antique A stunning Spanish antique highboard or cabinet in warm oak wood with two doors from the 16th century. The cabinet has its original keys and offers ample storage space behind the doors. This hand carved antique oak cabinet...
Oak
Outstanding Quality Antique Victorian Carved Oak Sideboard
Located in Suffolk, GB
Outstanding quality antique Victorian carved oak sideboard having a moulded cornice above a carved oak frieze supported by two turned reeded carved oak columns, bevelled edge mirror ...
Oak
19th Century Carved Oak Mirror Back Dresser with Green Man Carvings
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
19th Century Carved Oak Mirror Back Dresser with Green Man Carvings This is a superb and large piece, it has superb quality carvings of Musicians Dancers and Mythical creatures incl...
Oak
Incredible simple 17th century Montagnard sideboard
Located in Jesteburg, DE
A very rare and unique original 17th century cabinet with original wrought irom hinges and a beautiful patina. Like most of our pieces, this sideboard stands out by its timeless ape...
Softwood
17th Century, English Carved Oak Court Cupboard Sideboard
Located in Forney, TX
A most impressive antique, circa 1660-1700, English carved oak court cupboard (sideboard) with outstanding dark rich patina. Born in England, most likely North County, dating to the late 17th century - possibly very early 18th century, hand-crafted of warm solid oak, richly carved with intricate Celtic foliate motifs throughout. Medieval Tudor styling, two-piece design, the top having a pair of cabinet doors flanking a recessed arched vault decorative panel, flanked by Jacobean bulbous turned column supports, over lower case with large double-door cabinet, retaining the original hand forged iron butterfly hinges and pulls, all rising on bracket feet. PROVENANCE / ACQUISITION: Having a brass plaque reading: "Bequeathed to Joseph FitzGerald Blood, by Mrs. Jane Thomas, Birkenhead, A.D. 1901," Joseph FitzGerald Blood; Irish; born in Ireland in 1853, died in London in 1924. In the 1901 English census: Joseph was in Birkenhead, Cheshire, England. Source "1901 England Census" Class: RG13; Piece: 3399; Folio: 95; Page: 13 Acquired from highly reputable auction house, Austin Auction Gallery, est.1983, Austin, Texas. French English Antiques Important Estates...
Iron
Antique Continental Figural Carved Oak Hunt Sideboard, Circa 1890
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Continental figural hunt sideboard offers paneled oak construction with carved gadrooned drawers with cast lion pulls surmounting lower doubl...
Metal, Brass
Sold
H 38.59 in W 74.81 in D 26.38 in
Rare 15th Century German Gothic Chest or Stollentruhe, Westphalia
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
The monumental rectangular standing chest with full-height stiles, extensively mounted with wrought ironwork straps terminating in lily finials which ’wrap’ around the chest edges. T...
Wrought Iron
Antique Gothic Oak Whitewashed Buffet
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique Gothic oak whitewashed buffet features solid oak construction designed to last for generation after generation! Hand-forged iron strap hinge...
Steel
Sold
H 35.5 in W 72.5 in L 35.5 in
Vintage Carved Walnut Gothic Style Sideboard by Kittinger, 20th Century
By Kittinger Furniture Company
Located in Big Flats, NY
A vintage Gothic style sideboard by Kittinger features heavily carved walnut construction with foliate and geometric elements and having drawers...
Walnut
Antique French Gothic Buffet
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique French Gothic buffet boasts carved detail across the facade and even on the supports underneath, enhanced by the bold steel strap hinges ...
Wrought Iron
Sold
H 118.9 in W 53.15 in D 20.08 in
19th Century French Gothic Style Walnut Carved Bookcase or Sideboard
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Impressive antique 19th century French Gothic style bookcase or sideboard: Made entirely of carved walnut wood. The carving work is spectacular ...
Walnut
Green Man Gothic Carved Dresser by Edwards and Roberts
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Green Man Gothic carved Walnut dresser by Edwards and Roberts This is one of the finest carved pieces you will ever find, it was made in the second half of the 19th century by the w...
Sold
H 69 in W 67 in D 27 in
19th Century Carved Oak Mirror Back Dresser with Tree of Life, Green Man Carving
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
This is a superb and large piece but it is not too high, it has superb quality mythical beasts and green man carvings, on the sides as well as the fr...
Oak
19th Century English Oak Gothic Style Sideboard
Located in High Point, NC
19th Century English oak sideboard in the Gothic manner. The top is wonderfully shaped and decorated around the edges, following down to a magnificently carved and pierced case, wit...
Oak