Medieval Furniture
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 20th Century Unknown Medieval Furniture
Wrought Iron
1920s French Vintage Medieval Furniture
Crystal, Brass
19th Century French Antique Medieval Furniture
Brass
Early 20th Century American Medieval Furniture
Iron
1950s American Vintage Medieval Furniture
Steel, Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Medieval Furniture
Wrought Iron
Late 20th Century Medieval Furniture
Metal
1930s Vintage Medieval Furniture
Brass, Copper
1970s European Vintage Medieval Furniture
Porcelain
21st Century and Contemporary American Medieval Furniture
Iron
Early 20th Century French Medieval Furniture
Iron
Late 20th Century Medieval Furniture
19th Century French Antique Medieval Furniture
Iron
Early 20th Century Spanish Medieval Furniture
Iron
Mid-20th Century Dutch Medieval Furniture
Brass
1950s Austrian Vintage Medieval Furniture
Brass, Metal
Mid-20th Century Dutch Medieval Furniture
Brass
1950s German Vintage Medieval Furniture
Brass
Early 20th Century French Medieval Furniture
Wrought Iron, Tôle
1990s Medieval Furniture
Metal
Late 19th Century Belgian Antique Medieval Furniture
Gesso, Wood, Paint
Mid-20th Century French Medieval Furniture
Brass
1910s French Vintage Medieval Furniture
Bronze
Early 20th Century French Medieval Furniture
Crystal, Bronze
Mid-19th Century French Antique Medieval Furniture
Wrought Iron
Mid-20th Century French Medieval Furniture
Milk Glass, Opaline Glass, Porcelain, Glass
Early 20th Century Spanish Medieval Furniture
Iron
Early 20th Century Unknown Medieval Furniture
Zinc
Early 20th Century English Medieval Furniture
Nickel
1910s French Vintage Medieval Furniture
Copper, Wrought Iron
Late 19th Century English Antique Medieval Furniture
Brass
19th Century French Antique Medieval Furniture
Faience
19th Century French Antique Medieval Furniture
Iron
19th Century French Antique Medieval Furniture
Iron
1940s French Vintage Medieval Furniture
Wrought Iron
15th Century and Earlier European Antique Medieval Furniture
Wrought Iron
19th Century French Antique Medieval Furniture
Iron
19th Century Spanish Antique Medieval Furniture
Wrought Iron