Renaissance Furniture
Spanning an era of cultural rebirth in Europe that harkened back to antiquity, the Renaissance was a time of change in design. From the late 1400s to the early 1600s, Rome, Venice and Florence emerged as artistic centers through the expansion of global trade and a humanist belief in the arts being central to society. Antique Renaissance furniture was ornately carved from sturdy woods like walnut, its details standing out against the tapestries and stained glass adorning the walls.
Renaissance chests, which were frequently commissioned for marriages, were often decorated with gilding or painted elements. Those that were known as cassoni were crafted in shapes based on classical sarcophagi. As opposed to the medieval era, when furniture was pared down to the necessities, a wide range of Renaissance chairs, tables and cabinets were created for the home, and the designs regularly referenced ancient Rome.
Large torchères of the Renaissance era that were used as floor lamps were inspired by classical candelabras, while marble surfaces evoked frescoes. The inlaid boxes being imported from the Middle East informed the intarsia technique, which involved varying hues of wood in mosaic-like patterns, such as those by architect Giuliano da Maiano in the Florence Cathedral.
Tapestry-woven cushion covers accented the variety of Renaissance seating — from conversation to study chairs — while bookcases for secular use reflected the migration of culture and knowledge from the church into the home. The aesthetics of the Italian Renaissance later spread to France through the publishing of work by renowned designers, including Hugues Sambin and Jacques Androuet du Cerceau. Centuries later, the 19th-century Renaissance Revival would see a return to this influential style.
Find a collection of antique Renaissance case pieces, decorative objects and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Early 20th Century Spanish Renaissance Furniture
Oak
17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Canvas, Giltwood, Wood, Plaster
Early 20th Century Renaissance Furniture
Metal
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
1930s American Vintage Renaissance Furniture
Wood
20th Century Italian Renaissance Furniture
Metal
17th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Stone
19th Century European Antique Renaissance Furniture
Zinc
Early 1900s Antique Renaissance Furniture
Oak
2010s Renaissance Furniture
Mahogany
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
1890s Spanish Antique Renaissance Furniture
Iron
2010s Renaissance Furniture
Mahogany
Late 19th Century German Antique Renaissance Furniture
Porcelain
2010s American Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
1980s North American Vintage Renaissance Furniture
Mahogany
17th Century British Antique Renaissance Furniture
Marble, Brass, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Renaissance Furniture
Wood
2010s American Renaissance Furniture
Wood, Paper
Early 20th Century Unknown Renaissance Furniture
Metal
Late 20th Century American Renaissance Furniture
Marble, Bronze
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Majolica
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Renaissance Furniture
Porcelain
1940s Italian Vintage Renaissance Furniture
Mirror, Giltwood
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Bronze
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Bronze
Late 19th Century American Antique Renaissance Furniture
Brass
Late 20th Century Renaissance Furniture
Mahogany
18th Century Unknown Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
16th Century German Antique Renaissance Furniture
Gesso, Wood
Early 20th Century Unknown Renaissance Furniture
Plaster
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
Late 20th Century Italian Renaissance Furniture
Paper
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Renaissance Furniture
Glass, Oak
20th Century Unknown Renaissance Furniture
Mahogany
Early 20th Century Renaissance Furniture
Bronze
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Maiolica
Early 20th Century Italian Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
Late 19th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Metal, Bronze, Copper
18th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Marble
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Ormolu
Late 19th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Bronze
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
2010s Renaissance Furniture
Mahogany
1880s American Antique Renaissance Furniture
Canvas, Giltwood
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Marble
2010s Renaissance Furniture
Leather, Mahogany
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Marble
Late 19th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Marble, Metal, Brass
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
Early 20th Century French Renaissance Furniture
Cast Stone
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Renaissance Furniture
Leather, Wood
2010s Renaissance Furniture
Wood
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
1930s Dutch Vintage Renaissance Furniture
Wood
1860s Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
Early 20th Century Italian Renaissance Furniture
Fabric, Wood
Early 20th Century Unknown Renaissance Furniture
Resin, Walnut