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.
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
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
Antique English sideboard from the early 19th century in Gothic style
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This antique English Gothic-style display cabinet features elegant curved wooden details and a beautiful deep color palette. The cabinet has brass handles, dates from the early 19th ...
Glass, Wood
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
19th Century English Oak Sideboard
Located in High Point, NC
19th century oak sideboard from England with a beveled edge around the top, following down to paneled sides and two drawers in the front with raised geometric panels, flanked by hand...
Oak
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
$2,688Sale Price|36% Off
H 35 in W 75 in D 22.38 in
Early 19th Century George III English Serpentine Form Sideboard
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Early 19th century serpentine form sideboard, English, George III Period. Lion mask backplate ring pulls. Deep drawers (one retaining cellarette dividers), flank the shaped central d...
Wood, Oak
English pine sideboard 19th century
Located in MILL, NL
Pine sideboard / counter / dresser. Originally from England. 19th century. Made entirely of pine. With 2 doors and 3 small drawers in the centre. A beautiful pale colour. A very so...
Pine
Large Hand-carved Sideboard, Oak, Spain, 1940s
Located in Split, Splitsko-dalmatinska županija
J.A.D.A Galerie present: Spanish workshop, four door sideboard, oak, Spain, 1940s. Four drawers run in a frieze across the top of the case, and below them four doors carry the whol...
Wrought Iron
$6,086
H 70.48 in W 27.56 in D 16.54 in
Rustic Folk Art Travail Populaire Cabinet, France 19th Century
Located in Aartselaar, BE
Rustic cabinet, travail populaire, art populaire, folk art, primitive, 19th century This rustic travail populaire cabinet, handcrafted from solid wood in France around 1800, embodie...
Wood, Oak
Monumental Gothic Revival Oak Cabinet, Early 20th Century
Located in BÉTERA, ES
Impressive monumental oak cabinet standing approximately 2 meters high, richly carved in the Gothic Revival taste. The cabinet features elaborate architectural carving throughout, i...
Hardwood, Oak
$3,681Sale Price|54% Off
H 84.26 in W 77.17 in D 22.05 in
19th Century Walnut Buffet Louis Philippe Deux-Corps, France
Located in Labrit, Landes
Antique Louis Philippe buffet cabinet, made circa 1850-1860 This type of buffet was used as the centrepiece of a room. It was used to st...
Walnut
Early 19th Century mahogany bowfront sideboard
Located in Martlesham, GB
A superb quality early 19th Century mahogany inlaid bowfront sideboard, having a lovely figured top above a central drawer and two deep drawers either side, all drawers are oak lined...
Mahogany
Antique English Regency Flame Mahogany Sideboard 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a superb antique English Regency flame mahogany shaped serpentine bowfront sideboard, Circa 1820 in date. It is crossbanded, bordered with ebony lines and fitted with a central frieze drawer above a recessed arched apron drawer. It is flanked by two short drawers to one side and a cellarette drawer to the other. It has superb decorative brass foliate anthemion ring handles and is raised on elegant ring turned tapered legs. Fitted with working locks and keys. Add an elegant touch to a special place in your home with this superb antique sideboard. THE BOTANICAL NAME FOR THE MAHOGANY THAT THIS ITEM IS MADE OF IS SWIETENIA MACROPHYLLA AND THIS TYPE OF MAHOGANY IS NOT SUBJECT TO CITES REGULATION AND DOES NOT CONTAIN ANY RESTRICTED MATERIALS. Condition: In excellent condition having been beautifully restored in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm: Height 92 x Width 188 x Depth 80 Dimensions in inches: Height 3 foot x Width 6 foot, 2 inches x Depth 2 foot, 7 inches Flame Mahogany Thomas Sheraton - 18th century furniture designer, once characterized mahogany as "best suited to furniture where strength is demanded as well as a wood that works...
Mahogany
$7,800
H 33.86 in W 102.37 in D 23.63 in
Large Danish Modern Carved Oak Sideboard by Max A. Rasmussen, Denmark, 1940s
Located in Odense, DK
A unique and impressive Danish sideboard in oak, made by cabinetmaker Max A. Rasmussen Møbelfabrik in Odense, Denmark, circa 1940s. The substantial cabinet features richly hand-carv...
Brass, Iron
A Tall French Antique Deux Corps Cabinet
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French tall display and storage cabinet from the early 20th century. This antique painted-wood cabinet from France has a shallow break-front design along the front, with a stack molded cornice with fluted carvings beneath. The upper cabinet houses four glass-panel front doors, and rests atop a lower case fitted with three drawers set in horizontal fashion along it's top, with four doors beneath (each opens to reveal shelving and abundant storage within). This piece is raised upon six spaded feet. The painted finish is older, though not original. It is primarily a creamy grey color with a darker slate accent trim, and a nicely aged patina throughout. The shelves are 12" deep at their deepest, with the more shallow ones having an 11" depth. This French deux...
Wood
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
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