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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
Set of 2 wood and brass torcheres, Netherlands 1950s
Located in ECHT, NL
Set of 2 floor standing candle holders. Made from wood and brass. They came from a monastery in Oirschot Netherlands The bases are made ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Dutch Medieval Furniture

Materials

Brass

Bobyrug’s Wonderful Vintage French hand printed Tapestry, « bestiaire »
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Introduce timeless charm into your space with this exquisite wool and linen tapestry from the renowned Robert Four manufacture in Aubusson, France. A vintage replica of a 15th-centur...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Medieval Furniture

Materials

Cotton, Wool

English Gothic Style Bleached Oak Bookcase
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Very good quality late 19th C bleached oak Gothic style bookcase with linen fold cared doors. Made by Maple and Co. 1890 Reference: 8316 Dimensions 73 inches (185 cms) Wide 25 inc...
Category

19th Century British Antique Medieval Furniture

Materials

Oak

An Architectural Model of a Gothic Pinnacle France
Located in Chonburi, TH
This architectural model is a stunning representation of a Gothic pinnacle from France, standing at an impressive height of 51 cm. Crafted with meticul...
Category

19th Century French Antique Medieval Furniture

Materials

Oak

Hand Carved Stone Vide poche Basin Jardinière Bowl Planter Vessel Sink Antiques
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Hand Carved Stone Vide poche Basin Jardinière bowl planter vessel sink Antiques . 17th C. Possibly earlier Gothic Container . A Water Trough Benitier in a ...
Category

17th Century French Antique Medieval Furniture

Materials

Stone, Limestone

WILTON Mid 20th Century Gothic Cast Iron Candle Sconces - Pair
Located in Charlotte, NC
A pair of Gothic style candle wall sconces by Wilton. Solid cast iron, black in color, in a gathered sheaf of leaves design, with two arms and candleholders. Made in the USA, in the ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Medieval Furniture

Materials

Iron

SundayMorning, Stainless Steel LoungeChair Made in Italy edizioni Enrico Girotti
Located in Verona, IT
Sunday Morning, stainless steel seating, distinguished by a contoured design to encapsulate the prevailing empty space in its forms. Designed by Enrico Girotti produced by Edizioni E...
Category

2010s Italian Medieval Furniture

Materials

Stainless Steel

19th Century French Carved Walnut Royal Coat-of-Arms of the City of Paris
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate an office or a study with this elegant antique "Blason" or coat of arms. Created in France circa 1870, the hand carved sculpture depicts the coat of arms of the city of Pari...
Category

19th Century French Antique Medieval Furniture

Materials

Walnut

19th Century French Gothic Forged Iron Five-Light Floor Lamp
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a study of office with this elegant floor fixture. Crafted in southern France, circa 1860, the candelabra lamp stands on a tripod base ending with three feet. The twisted st...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Medieval Furniture

Materials

Iron

Antique English Oak Church Door
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An old antique English oak church door dating from the early 20th century with handsome weathering that has instilled the front with a beautiful timew...
Category

Early 20th Century English Medieval Furniture

Materials

Wood, Oak

French Vintage 'Les Vendanges' Mille Fleur Tappestry
Located in LYON, FR
Mille Fleur tapestry of a 1500’s wine making depiction. The original masterpiece hanging in the museum of Cluny Paris. This high quality, highly d...
Category

1960s French Vintage Medieval Furniture

Materials

Wool

Antique Bas-Relief 'Jesus and the Twelve Disciples' in Stone
Located in Tilburg, NL
Antique Bas-Relief 'Jesus and the Twelve Disciples' in Stone, early 20th century. Presumably European origin. Beautiful antique bas relief depicting Jesus and the twelve disciples. ...
Category

Early 20th Century European Medieval Furniture

Materials

Stone

19th Century Spanish Gothic Style Wrought Iron Portico Lantern.
Located in Vero Beach, FL
19th Century Spanish Gothic Style Wrought Iron Portico Lantern. Antique hand forged iron Gothic style hanging lantern from Spain circa 1890. It i...
Category

19th Century Spanish Antique Medieval Furniture

Materials

Wrought Iron

Set of 6 19th Century Country House Oak Dining Chairs
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Set of 6 19th Century Country House Oak Dining Chairs This is a very handsome set of High Back Country Oak Chairs, one of which is the carver chair These handsome Oak frames have ...
Category

1890s Antique Medieval Furniture

Materials

Oak

Pair of 19th Century French Wrought Iron “Landiers” Andirons with Fleur de Lys
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a fireplace with this elegant pair of antique wrought iron andirons with matching cross bar. Forged in France, circa 1820, and standing on three feet, the andirons called “L...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Medieval Furniture

Materials

Wrought Iron

Large Victorian Oak Leather Top Partners Desk, EDWARDS & ROBERTS Library Table
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Large Victorian Oak Leather Top Partners Desk, EDWARDS & ROBERTS Library Table This is a large piece, the table stands on heavy turned and carved legs set on brass casters, it has 3 drawers set into the apron along each side, these have superbly carved fronts and the inset handles are carved with the faces of Lions The table top has a tooled inset leather, the desk is stamped EDWARDS & ROBERTS and has been fully restored with a replaced tooled leather top The Library table it is 60” long...
Category

1850s Antique Medieval Furniture

Materials

Oak

19th Century Carved Oak Correspondence, Post or Letter Box
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
19th Century Carved Oak Correspondence, Post or Letter Box This very attractive Carved Box is made in Oak, it is carved on the top with 2 letter slots, one for UNANSWERED and the ot...
Category

19th Century Antique Medieval Furniture

Materials

Oak

Monumental Rare Antique Renaissance Revival Gothic Walnut Fireplace Mantel 11 FT
Located in Dayton, OH
Very large and exceedingly rare English Renaissance Revival fireplace mantel, circa 1860s. Made of hand carved walnut featuring a gothic cathedral design. The fireplace portion is ...
Category

Mid-19th Century Antique Medieval Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Mary Magdalene on her way to Marseille. Castilian school, 15th century.
Located in Madrid, ES
Mary Magdalene on her way to Marseille. oil on board. Castilian school, towards the last third of the century XV. Oil on panel showing a landscape in the background with a walled city, some mountains and the shore of a watercourse (from the theme it is seen that it is the shore from sea). In the foreground and in full body, a boat with a sail appears with a circus richly dressed characters and with their respective nimbus (these decorated with geometric elements and engraved vegetables), two women and three men. Note the anecdotal detail of the fish crossing the waters under the ship. In the Golden...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Spanish Antique Medieval Furniture

Materials

Other

Antique Gothic Style Fire Grate
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An unusual late 19th century antique gothic style fire grate, reclaimed from a property in Sussex. Pairing function with form, this fire grate is a striking piece for any setting, de...
Category

19th Century English Antique Medieval Furniture

Materials

Brass, Iron

Bobyrug’s Wonderful Vintage French hand printed Tapestry Vendanges museum Design
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Discover the elegance of this mid-century French hand-printed tapestry featuring the exquisite design of the renowned medieval museum tapestry, "Les Vendanges" (grape harvest) from t...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Medieval Furniture

Materials

Cotton

19th Century French Neogothic Oak Mirror
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century French Neogothic Oak Mirror was hand-crafted during the Arts & Crafts period, and features a sturdy, stoutly made framework with a stylized egg & dart trim carved all ar...
Category

1890s Antique Medieval Furniture

Materials

Mirror, Oak

Rare Antique French Carved Limestone Gargoyle Scupper, Pre-1700
Located in Dallas, TX
Hand-carved from French limestone, this rare gargoyle architectural has a wonderful cream finish with white accents and centuries’ worth of accumulation, resulting in areas of gold a...
Category

17th Century French Antique Medieval Furniture

Materials

Stone, Limestone

EXQUISITE PAIR OF HAND CARVED HARDWOOD LiBRARY ARMCHAIRS LION GRIFFON WING ARMS
Located in GB
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this super decorative pair of large hand carved Mahogany and leather library armchairs with ornately carved ...
Category

20th Century English Medieval Furniture

Materials

Hardwood

Bobyrug’s Pretty Mid Century French Aubusson Tapestry medieval design
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Very pretty mid century french Aubusson tapestry with beautiful design from the painter Georges Deveche ( 1903-1974), showing a scene of a museum medieval tapestry with beautiful col...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Medieval Furniture

Materials

Wool

Ducale GT Aureo, Venetian modern Chair Made in Italy by edizioni Enrico Girotti
Located in Verona, IT
Sn the Ducale Collection, Enrico Girotti pays homage to the city of Venice, reflecting on the significance of some distinctive elements of Venetian Gothic, applying and reinterpretin...
Category

2010s Italian Medieval Furniture

Materials

Steel

European 16th Century Hand Carved Wooden Virgin Mary Polychrome Statue
Located in Oostende, BE
This 16th century hand-carved wooden Virgin Mary polychrome statue comes from a church in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium (Europe), and was bought directly fr...
Category

16th Century Belgian Antique Medieval Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Early Newyork Subway Train Station 32” Bronze Lantern Light
Located in Bensalem, PA
This is a truly amazing piece of New York City subway history solid bronze lantern with 2 sets of 4 original acrylic subway inserts black and white this does not have any wiring or s...
Category

1890s American Antique Medieval Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Bobyrug’s Beautiful vintage French embroidered tapestry, Bayeux museum design
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Discover the charm of our exquisite vintage French tapestry embroidery featuring a section from the Bayeux tapestry. Entirely hand embroidered with wool on a cotton foundation with t...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Medieval Furniture

Materials

Wool, Cotton

Miniature Iron Maiden of Nuremberg
Located in Hanover, MA
Miniature "Iron Maiden" in blackened cast metal attached to its original round wood base. The front doors are pin-hinged and open to reveal pointed spikes. At base of doors is printe...
Category

1890s German Antique Medieval Furniture

Materials

Iron

A pierced Flamboyant canopy - North of France, 15th century
Located in Bruxelles, BE
A pierced Flamboyant canopy North of France, 15th century Limestone 30 x 32 x 35 cm This richly decorated canopy of circular plan, consist of three carved faces, each dominated by ...
Category

15th Century and Earlier French Antique Medieval Furniture

Materials

Limestone

English Medieval Style Leaded Glass Window
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An antique English medieval style leaded glass window circa 1850 in Tudor revival style depicting an armoured knight holding a banner beside a priest ...
Category

Mid-19th Century English Antique Medieval Furniture

Materials

Lead

Gothic Renaissance Revival Painted Hall Altar Console Table Chair Set - 4 Pc Set
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Gothic Renaissance Revival Painted Hall Altar Console Table and Pair of Chairs Set - 4 Pc Set. Item features a single dovetailed drawer to console t...
Category

Early 20th Century Medieval Furniture

Materials

Mirror, Oak

Mid Century Punch Bowl with Ladel And Five Cups
Located in Pasadena, CA
Mid Century Punch Bowl with Ladel And Five Cups. The Punch Bowl has a slouched over figure of what seems to a demonic figure. Wonderful texture...
Category

1970s English Vintage Medieval Furniture

Materials

Pottery

A granite sculpture of a young woman's head - France - 1960
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
A refined granite sculpture portraying the head of a young woman, believed to likely represent Saint Joan of Arc, crafted in France during the 1950s. It features a magnificent patina...
Category

1960s European Vintage Medieval Furniture

Materials

Granite

French Gothic Ormolu Cut Glass & Marble/Quartz Double Inkwell
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
French Gothic Ormolu Cut Glass and Marble/Quartz Double Inkwell France, circa 1870s A magnificent French Gothic Ormolu Cut Glass and Marble/Quartz Double Inkwell, dating back to the...
Category

19th Century French Antique Medieval Furniture

Materials

Quartz, Marble, Ormolu

Pair of Cast Iron and Wrought Iron Andirons
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This pair of gothic andirons is made of cast iron and wrought iron. This is a French work. Circa 1970.
Category

1970s French Vintage Medieval Furniture

Materials

Iron, Wrought Iron

French Medieval Gothic Hand Forged Iron Village Cross
Located in Buisson, FR
Unique hand forged iron cross that once stood in the centre of a Provençal village. France, circa 1450-1550. Weathered. Measurement is with the wooden base.
Category

16th Century French Antique Medieval Furniture

Materials

Iron

Large Vintage Gothic or Art Deco Black Wrought Iron & White Milk Glass Lights
Located in Topeka, KS
Wonderful large vintage gothic or Art Deco black painted wrought iron & white milk glass light fixtures. 3 total selling separately. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that these a...
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Medieval Furniture

Materials

Wrought Iron

Medieval Style Antique Stained Glass Window
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An excellent condition and finely made late 19th century medieval style stained glass window depicting the Hunt of St. Eustace from the workshop of German stained glass artist, Franz Xaver Zettler (1841-1916). Inscribed ‘Zettler Muenchen’ (translated Zettler Munich), this spectacular antique stained...
Category

Late 19th Century German Antique Medieval Furniture

Materials

Lead

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

17th Century European Religious Book Binding Brass Mounts Vellum Monumental Size
Located in Atlanta, GA
An antique animal skin or vellum book binding with brass or possibly bronze mounts (sometimes called furniture - centerpiece, corner pieces) of monumental scale. The work measures al...
Category

17th Century European Antique Medieval Furniture

Materials

Brass, Bronze

1960s Hand Wrought Iron Oval Fleur De Lys Chandelier from Brittany, France
Located in Dallas, TX
Recently found in a home in Brittany, France, this high quality wrought iron chandelier was hand-formed with fleur de lys motifs. The main body is a thick, open oval, formed by three...
Category

1960s French Vintage Medieval Furniture

Materials

Metal, Wrought Iron, Iron

Pair of Armorial Fruitwood and Gilt Metal Sconces
Located in New York, NY
Pair of vintage carved and giltwood and metal sconces in the Gothic style featuring intricately carved backplates in the form of a column pierced with fleur-de-lis and Doric capital,...
Category

20th Century French Medieval Furniture

Materials

Wood

A Rare And Extraordinary English Oak Spice Chest C. 1700
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A very early Oak Spice Chest with fine English form, handsome decorative panel doors and 24 drawers, four of which are hidden behind a central interior doo...
Category

18th Century English Antique Medieval Furniture

Materials

Iron

Vintage Crackle Glass Coffee Table on Polished Iron Base
Located in Dallas, TX
This unusual cocktail table would make an interesting addition to any living room, sitting area, office, or den. Square in shape, the elegant table stands on four cabriole legs, embe...
Category

2010s American Medieval Furniture

Materials

Wrought Iron

Early 20th Century French Gothic Wrought Iron Six-Light Fleur-de-Lys Chandelier
Located in Dallas, TX
Add a touch of Gothic style to your house with this elegant light fixture. Forged in Normandy, France circa 1920, and oblong in shape, the antique chandelier features a large hand fo...
Category

Early 20th Century French Medieval Furniture

Materials

Wrought Iron

1960s Hand Wrought Iron Oval Fleur De Lys Chandelier from Brittany, France
Located in Dallas, TX
Recently found in a home in Brittany, France, this high quality wrought iron chandelier was hand-formed with fleur de lys motifs. The main body is a thick, open oval, formed by three...
Category

1960s French Vintage Medieval Furniture

Materials

Metal, Iron, Wrought Iron

Antique Italian Wrought Iron Dragon Candle Holder, XIX Century
Located in New York, NY
Antique Candle Holder in form of a Dragon Wrought Iron Italy, XIX Century ABOUT This unique and really whimsical wrought iron candle holder in the form of a stylized dragon immediat...
Category

1890s Italian Antique Medieval Furniture

Materials

Wrought Iron

Pair of Victorian Buff Terracotta Finials or Pier Caps
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An impressive set of 2 large-scale 19th century Victorian buff terracotta finials, perfect for use as large pier caps either side of grand set of driveway gates! Reminiscent of Tudor...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Medieval Furniture

Materials

Terracotta

Antique English silver Victorian gothic style vase, Birmingham 1890
Located in Central England, GB
This most eyecatching solid silver vase stands on a moulded and domed raised foot. The tall slender body slowly flares to a plain out swept rim. The lower body is decorated with a g...
Category

Mid-19th Century Antique Medieval Furniture

Materials

Silver

19th Century French Gothic Black Painted Wrought Iron Six-Light Chandelier
Located in Dallas, TX
Bring a true "Old World" flair to your dining room, entryway or den with this large and imposing light fixture. Crafted in France circa 1870 and round in shape, this antique chandeli...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Medieval Furniture

Materials

Iron

Venetian Hand Painted Oil on Canvas 4 Section Peacock Bird Screen Room Divider
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Venetian Hand Painted Oil on Canvas Folding 4 Section Peacock Bird Screen Room Divider. Circa 1900. Measurements: Overall: 67.25" H x 64.5" W (Fully open) x 1" D Each Panel:...
Category

Early 1900s Antique Medieval Furniture

Materials

Canvas, Wood, Paint

17th century Spanish or Italian carved solid wood chest
Located in Lyon, FR
Spanish or Italian 17th century bis chest. Chest structure in solid walnut, entirely hand-carved. Exceptional craftsmanship. Very naive vintage conduction with a nice patina on the...
Category

17th Century Italian Antique Medieval Furniture

Materials

Walnut

20th Century Gothic Style Carved Wood Wall Mirror
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Elegant 20th cetury Italian carved poplar wood wall mirror. The frame is characterized by an elaborate decoration with classic gothic taste. The wood is lacquered in green tones with...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Medieval Furniture

Materials

Poplar

20th Century Gothic Style Carved Wood Wall Mirror
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Elegant 20th cetury Italian carved poplar wood wall mirror. The frame is characterized by an elaborate decoration with classic gothic taste. The wood is lacquered in blue tones with ...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Medieval Furniture

Materials

Poplar

Danish Cast Iron and Bronze Jewelry Box or Dresser Box, Circa 1940s
Located in South Bend, IN
A beautiful casket form cast iron and bronze dresser box, jewelry box, cigar box, or decorative box with interior cedar lining. The front depicts a scene from the 1219 Battle of Lynd...
Category

1940s Danish Vintage Medieval Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Iron

A Victorian Gothic Style Exterior Door
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An Arched Gothic style door, salvaged from a Church in Shrewsbury. Total Height 252 cm (99.21 in) Height to shoulder: 153 cm (60.23 in)
Category

Mid-19th Century English Antique Medieval Furniture

Materials

Wood, Pine

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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