Medieval Furniture
MEDIEVAL STYLE
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.
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Style: Medieval
Returnable Items Only
Silver Gray Antique Turkish Rug
Located in New York, NY
An early 20th century Turkish Sivas rug featuring a silver/gray color background.
Category
20th Century Turkish Medieval Furniture
Materials
Wool
Large Gothic Bull's Head Andirons, Firedogs, 18th Century
Located in Amerongen, NL
Large wrought iron fire dogs with spit hooks. These French andirons are called 'landiers' in France. This dates from the times the andirons were the main cooking equipment in the hou...
Category
18th Century French Antique Medieval Furniture
Materials
Iron
Early 19th Century Limestone Mantel Chimneypiece in the Gothic Manner
Located in London, GB
A 19th century English limestone fireplace in the Gothic manner. The jambs and end blocks with Quinto acuto arches, the frieze with accompanying arch motif throughout with shelf abov...
Category
Early 19th Century British Antique Medieval Furniture
Materials
Limestone
17th c. Square Gothic Fire Grate
Located in Haarlem, Noord-Holland
Wrought iron Gothic fire grate, gorgeous patina.
Category
18th Century and Earlier Dutch Antique Medieval Furniture
Materials
Iron
French Charles X Birds Eye Maple Mirrored Console Table
Located in New York, NY
French Charles X birds eye maple and ebonized trim and inlaid Gothic design console table with platform base and mirrored back with gilt floral carved edge on top.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Medieval Furniture
Materials
Gold Leaf
Pair of 19th Century Italian Medieval Style One-Arm Sconces
Located in New Orleans, LA
A pair of carved, painted and gilded sconces in the Medieval style. 19th century Italian.
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Medieval Furniture
Materials
Wood
19th Century Oak Joint Stool
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
19th Century Oak Joint Stool
This is a good Oak Joined Stool a good solid stool, it has a good natural colour and a lovely patina, th...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Medieval Furniture
Materials
Oak
Wall Sconces Torch Form Wrought Iron & Gold Leaf With Glove Opaline Glass, Pair
Located in Mombuey, Zamora
Pair of Torch Form Wall Sconces Wrought Iron & Gold Leaf With Glove Opaline Glass,
Pair of iron gloden wall lamps or sconces torch form with gl...
Category
Early 20th Century Spanish Medieval Furniture
Materials
Iron
19th Century French Gothic Bronze Doré Jewelry Box with Repousse Cherub Motifs
Located in Dallas, TX
This antique gilt bronze casket was created in France, circa 1870. The miniature trunk-shaped box with bombe top, stands on gargoyle figure feet, and is embellished with intricate repousse cherub and scrolled decor on all four sides. The jewelry box is upholstered with the original inside luxurious red velvet. The small safe...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Medieval Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Important 16th Century Italian School "Christ" Oil on Table
Located in Madrid, ES
Important 16th century Italian School.
"Christ"
Oil on the table.
Measures: width 34 - height 42cm.
Good conditions.
A study of the present table has not yet been done for this reas...
Category
16th Century Italian Antique Medieval Furniture
Materials
Paint
Mint Green Overdyed Vintage Persian Tabriz Worn Down Pure Wool Hand Knotted Rug
Located in Carlstadt, NJ
This fabulous Hand-Knotted carpet has been created and designed for extra strength and durability. This rug has been handcrafted for weeks in the traditional method that is used to m...
Category
1960s Persian Vintage Medieval Furniture
Materials
Wool
Early 16th century bust of Saint Barbara, School of Troyes, Champagne
Located in PARIS, FR
Bust of Saint Barbara
School of Troyes, Champagne
Circa 1520-1530
Partially polychrome limestone
h. 13 in., w. 12.6 in., d. 9.84 in.
This remarkable stone sculpture belongs to the traditional Champagne repertoire from the first third of the 16th century. Saint Barbara is one of the most venerated saints in Champagne during the Renaissance. The very small corpus of saints sculpted in the region during the Renaissance only includes Saints Marguerite or Savine, or anonymous saints, and is mainly dominated by numerous Saints Beards.
In the guise of a sweet and kind young girl, the Saint has an oval face with a high domed forehead, almond-shaped eyes with modestly lowered eyelids.
The long, wavy middle-parted locks of hair flow down either side of her shoulders. A beaded crown sits atop her slightly inclined head. She is dressed in a dress with a square neckline and an open coat covering the shoulders.
The tower, symbol of suffering, which serves as an attribute of the young martyr, is in the form of a dovecote tower in cut stone with a conical roof covered with flat tiles, pierced by a dormer window and equipped with a large arched door .
As an essential attribute, the integrity of the tower displaying the door at its base indicates that our sculpture, although executed as a bust, could in no way constitute a fragment of a larger statue.
The work of a talented anonymous sculptor from the Troyes region, our Saint Barbara with a delicate face and meditative expression reveals all her inner grace and arouses emotion and offer a feeling of benevolence. The essential effects that the artists sought to transmit through their artistic creations, but above all spiritual.
Saint Barbara
There is no certain historical data on Barbara who probably died a martyr at the beginning of the 4th century. However, its story is located in Turkey during the persecutions of Maximilian. The figure of the saint became legendary following the compilation of the acts of her life in the 7th century and the subsequent publication of “The Golden Legend...
Category
16th Century French Antique Medieval Furniture
Materials
Limestone
A French 15th century gothic iron casket
Located in PARIS, FR
A French gothic iron casket
Dimensions: h. 18 cm, l. 23 cm, p. 14cm
15th century
France
Without key
A rare parallelepipedal box with a domed lid, it is d...
Category
15th Century and Earlier French Antique Medieval Furniture
Materials
Wrought Iron
19th Century French Gothic Free Standing Repousse Brass Church Crucifix
Located in Dallas, TX
This beautiful and intricate crucifix was created in France circa 1880. Coming from a small catholic chapel in France and built of brass, the cross stands on three small curved acant...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Medieval Furniture
Materials
Brass
Hanging Lamp in the Gothic Style in Wrought Iron, Beginning of the 20th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Hanging lamp in the Gothic style in wrought iron. Beginning of the 20th century with four lights.
Category
19th Century French Antique Medieval Furniture
Materials
Iron
A Pair of French Carved Gothic Oak Bookcases
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
A Pair of French Carved Gothic Oak Bookcases
The upper section of the Bookcases have a glazed door enclosing 2 adjustable book shelves, these have...
Category
19th Century Antique Medieval Furniture
Materials
Oak
A Tall Hand Wrought Iron Torch Style Wall Sconce
Located in Dallas, TX
This tall and elegant wrought iron wall sconce is reminiscent of a torch that might have been hung on a castle wall centuries ago. The long and thick twisted shaft has a leaf cup and...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Medieval Furniture
Materials
Metal, Wrought Iron, Iron
Antique R.J. Horner Style Carved Mahogany Winged Griffin Parlor Set
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique R.J. Horner Style Carved Mahogany Winged Griffin Parlor Set
Stunning Antique R.J. Horner Style 2 piece Carved Mahogany Winged Griffin Parlor Set. Both the settee & matching...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Medieval Furniture
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
Metal Cross with Candlesticks
Located in Chorzów, PL
Metal cross with candlesticks
Very good condition
Measures: height 26 cm, width 31 cm.
Category
1950s Polish Vintage Medieval Furniture
Materials
Metal
Northern Italy Box Set with 16th Century Floral Motifs
Located in Madrid, ES
Northern Italy box set with 16th century Floral Motifs
18.5x30x16cm
Casket in carved and gilded wood with floral motifs.
Sealing wax stamp inside.
Vintag...
Category
16th Century Italian Antique Medieval Furniture
Materials
Wood
Rare and Beautiful 16th Century Siena Box
Located in Madrid, ES
Rare and Beautiful 16th century Siena box
13cm x 15.5cm x 27cm
Paper mache box gilt and lacquered in blue and red.
Good condition for the age.
Category
16th Century Italian Antique Medieval Furniture
Materials
Wood
Small 17th century Panelled Cottage Size Oak Coffer
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Small 17th century Panelled Cottage Size Oak Coffer
This is a lovely old piece, with a superb patina, the chest has three moulded panels on both the front and the top, it has a carved frieze along the front
Inside the Coffer has an open candle box with a blacksmith made L bracket...
Category
17th Century Antique Medieval Furniture
Materials
Oak
Element of Gothic Architecture, France or Flanders, 15th Century
Located in Bruxelles, BE
Element of gothic architecture
France or Flanders, 15th century
Measures: 48 x 50 x 17 cm
This element of limestone architecture representing two angels above a Gothic pointed arch, was probably the crowning of a stone tabernacle.
Dressed in an alb tightened at the waist by a belt, the angels keep in their hands the instruments of passion: the crown of thorns, the ladder to descend from the cross...
Category
15th Century and Earlier French Antique Medieval Furniture
Materials
Limestone
Monumental Stone Capital Decorated with Coat of Arms, France, 15th Century
Located in Bruxelles, BE
Monumental stone capital carved in high relief with foliage and a central coat of arms.
France, 15th century
34 x 49 x 47 cm
Provenance : Georges Demotte collection, then André Macé, see the photo taken by Demotte in his workshop around 1930.
The foliage that surrounds the central ecu with the details of the stems, ribs and lobes shows a naturalistic attention characteristic of 15th century ornamental carving.
This large capital with vegetable decoration was made during the 15th century in France, probably for a castle as it suggests the presence of the central shield, originally painted and gilded.
The work reveals the exceptional virtuosity of Gothic sculptors who tried giving the illusion of the flexibility of stems and leaves. The kale, which here surrounds the central shield, is a plant characteristic of the exuberance of the flora of the Flamboyant Gothic.
This beautiful capital comes from the collection of Georges Joseph Demotte (1877-1923) famous art dealer of Belgian origin specialized in Medieval...
Category
15th Century and Earlier French Antique Medieval Furniture
Materials
Stone, Limestone
Large Capital with Two Animals Holding a Phylactery, France, 15th Century
Located in Bruxelles, BE
Stone capital carved in high relief representing two animals holding a phylactery, probably a lion and a bull.
France, 15th century
Measures: 50 x 75 x 33 cm
Provenance : Geo...
Category
15th Century and Earlier French Antique Medieval Furniture
Materials
Stone
Pair of Gothic Painted Console Tables, Grey
Located in Westwood, NJ
A Gothic painted console table with an antique grey finish, in an 18th-century gothic style, the demilune half-round form with fine contrasting inlays to the top and frieze, and legs...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Medieval Furniture
Materials
Wood
Gothic Painted Console Table, Grey
Located in Westwood, NJ
A Gothic painted console table with an antique grey finish, in an 18th-century gothic style, the demilune half-round form with fine contrasting inlays to the top and frieze, and legs...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Medieval Furniture
Materials
Wood
Gold Colors, Vintage Persian Bakhtiar Distressed Hand Knotted Worn Wool Rug
Located in Carlstadt, NJ
This fabulous hand-knotted carpet has been created and designed for extra strength and durability. This rug has been handcrafted for weeks in the traditional method that is used to m...
Category
1960s Persian Vintage Medieval Furniture
Materials
Wool
19th Century French Gothic Enfilade
Located in High Point, NC
19th century French gothic enfilade with a plank top which has a beveled edge, following down to lovely hand paneled sides and four drawers ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Medieval Furniture
Materials
Oak
Pair of English Coalbrookdale Attributed Iron Gothic Revival Garden Benches
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Stunning pair of white English Coalbrookdale foundry attributed cast iron garden benches. Made in the dramatic gothic revival taste featuring a gothic tracery backrest centered by qu...
Category
20th Century English Medieval Furniture
Materials
Iron
Rare Early 19th Century French Vampire Stone Boss Fragment
Located in London, GB
Rare early 19th century stone boss
We are proud to offer one of the most unusual examples of a European hand carved stone boss. In the form of a vampire / grotesque. The paint is c...
Category
1820s French Antique Medieval Furniture
Materials
Stone
Neo-Gothic Wrought Iron Floor lamp with Soldier in Armor, French, circa 1950
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This Neo-Gothic floor lamp with soldier in armor is made of wrought iron. This is a French work, circa 1950.
Category
1950s French Vintage Medieval Furniture
Materials
Iron, Wrought Iron
Pair of Renaissance Style Hand Forged Floor Lamps
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Pair of hand forged floor lamps reminiscent of the Spanish Revival or Renaissance period. One lamp is about 1" taller than the other. Lamps have been professionally rewired with an ...
Category
Early 1900s English Antique Medieval Furniture
Materials
Steel
Pair of Gothic Style Wrought Iron Sconces, French, circa 1950
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This pair of Gothic style wall sconces is made of wrought iron. These wall lights have 3-light. These are very decorative and the quality is really good. The sconces can be used with...
Category
1950s French Vintage Medieval Furniture
Materials
Wrought Iron
Small 17th Century French Gothic Trunk in Carved Oak
Located in Dallas, TX
This 17th century French, hand carved oak trunk has wonderful French waxed patina. It has a frontage carved in the Gothic style of ornamentation. The facade is composed of 4 upper circular forms which transition into an arcade spanning the entire length. The two exterior most circles are centered by matching floral motifs, while the two inner motifs have flowers surrounded by an opposing Directional pattern. The top, sides and back are without decoration, while the lower front apron is adorned with Gothic tri-cusp. The top is hinged from the inside with metal hinge, and the front metal clasp falls over a decorative backplate.
This antique French Gothic trunk could be used for any type of storage, at the end of a bed as a blanket holder...
Category
17th Century French Antique Medieval Furniture
Materials
Metal
Antique, Large and Hand-Carved French Wall Crucifix / Jesus Christ on the Cross
Located in Lisse, NL
Large size sculpture and an impressive religious work of art.
Looking at Christ suffering like this, the crucifix (in our view) is a symbol of what 'telling people the truth' can le...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Medieval Furniture
Materials
Wood
A Large Antique Russian Icon Depicting the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ
By Mikhail Nesterov 1
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Large Antique Russian brass Icon "The Transfiguration of Jesus Christ" attributed to Mikhail Nesterov (1862-1942), within a gilt wood frame.
...
Category
19th Century Russian Antique Medieval Furniture
Materials
Brass
Round Antique Iron Chandelier from France, circa 1900
Located in Dallas, TX
This antique French round iron chandelier has a tall metal band of rusted iron with eight candlelight arms around the outside. The arms are scoop...
Category
Early 20th Century French Medieval Furniture
Materials
Iron
Early 16th century German Gothic Cabinet / Sideboard
Located in Troy, NY
Very attractive, rare and large Gothic cabinet / sideboard with three drawers over two doors, constructed in three parts.
beautiful Gothic tracery work,...
Category
16th Century German Antique Medieval Furniture
Materials
Wood
Medieval furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Medieval furniture for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include rugs and carpets, building and garden elements, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with fabric, wool and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Medieval furniture made in a specific country, there are Europe, Asia, and West Asia pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original furniture, popular names associated with this style include Europa Antiques, Arval Argenti Valenza, Edward F. Caldwell & Co., and Aeterna Furniture. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $30 and tops out at $275,000 while the average work can sell for $1,886.
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