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.
1840s English Antique Medieval Furniture
Silver Plate
1920s English Vintage Medieval Furniture
Silver Plate
1980s Vintage Medieval Furniture
Silver Plate
2010s Italian Medieval Furniture
Sterling Silver
1990s Italian Medieval Furniture
Sterling Silver
20th Century English Medieval Furniture
Silver Plate
Early 1900s English Antique Medieval Furniture
Silver
Early 19th Century Unknown Antique Medieval Furniture
Silver Plate
1940s English Vintage Medieval Furniture
Silver, Sterling Silver
Mid-19th Century French Antique Medieval Furniture
Silver
Early 1900s English Antique Medieval Furniture
Silver Plate
1920s British Vintage Medieval Furniture
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Finnish Medieval Furniture
Chrome
Late 19th Century English Antique Medieval Furniture
Copper, Silver, Silver Plate
Late 19th Century English Antique Medieval Furniture
Silver Plate
1930s French Vintage Medieval Furniture
Crystal, Bronze
Mid-20th Century English Medieval Furniture
Silver Plate
Early 1900s French Antique Medieval Furniture
Brass
19th Century English Antique Medieval Furniture
Silver Plate
Early 1900s French Antique Medieval Furniture
Crystal, Metal
Early 1900s French Antique Medieval Furniture
Brass
20th Century Italian Medieval Furniture
Silver Plate
17th Century Spanish Antique Medieval Furniture
Silver
1840s English Antique Medieval Furniture
Sterling Silver
1970s Italian Vintage Medieval Furniture
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Mid-20th Century English Medieval Furniture
Silver Plate
1960s Persian Vintage Medieval Furniture
Wool
1970s Asian Vintage Medieval Furniture
Wool
1970s Asian Vintage Medieval Furniture
Wool
1850s English Antique Medieval Furniture
Silver
Early 1900s German Antique Medieval Furniture
Sterling Silver
Early 1900s French Antique Medieval Furniture
Sterling Silver
19th Century German Antique Medieval Furniture
Silver
19th Century American Antique Medieval Furniture
Silver Plate