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.
2010s Italian Renaissance Furniture
Silver
2010s Italian Renaissance Furniture
Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Renaissance Furniture
Ceramic, Majolica
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Renaissance Furniture
Wood
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
Early 20th Century English Renaissance Furniture
Cast Stone, Bronze, Steel
Early 19th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Furniture
Oak
16th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
16th Century Belgian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Paint
20th Century Italian Renaissance Furniture
Paper
17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Copper
20th Century Italian Renaissance Furniture
Wood
1960s Romanian Vintage Renaissance Furniture
Wool
16th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
18th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Metal, Wrought Iron, Iron, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Renaissance Furniture
Ceramic, Majolica
2010s Italian Renaissance Furniture
Silver
2010s Italian Renaissance Furniture
Silver
16th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Metal, Bronze
19th Century Portuguese Antique Renaissance Furniture
Wood
1930s Italian Vintage Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
1990s Italian Renaissance Furniture
Sterling Silver
2010s Renaissance Furniture
Mahogany
1850s English Antique Renaissance Furniture
Paper
16th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Furniture
Earthenware
Late 17th Century Dutch Antique Renaissance Furniture
Steel
1980s North American Vintage Renaissance Furniture
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Renaissance Furniture
Marble
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Renaissance Furniture
Ceramic, Majolica
2010s Italian Renaissance Furniture
Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Renaissance Furniture
Ceramic, Majolica
16th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Oak
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Marble
Mid-18th Century Dutch Antique Renaissance Furniture
Oak
Mid-19th Century European Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut, Suede
18th Century Portuguese Antique Renaissance Furniture
Wood
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Majolica
Early 20th Century Italian Renaissance Furniture
Fabric, Wood
20th Century Renaissance Furniture
Terracotta
Early 20th Century Spanish Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
Late 20th Century Italian Renaissance Furniture
Fabric, Paper
2010s Italian Renaissance Furniture
Glass
16th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
Late 19th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Oak
Early 17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Silver
16th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
Early 18th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Metallic Thread
16th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Furniture
Earthenware
2010s Italian Renaissance Furniture
Glass
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Wrought Iron
Mid-17th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Oak
Mid-20th Century Italian Renaissance Furniture
Wrought Iron, Sheet Metal
17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Silk, Velvet
Late 17th Century Dutch Antique Renaissance Furniture
Steel
16th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Furniture
Earthenware
Mid-20th Century Austrian Renaissance Furniture
Wood, Paper
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Rock Crystal, Silver
Early 17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
20th Century European Renaissance Furniture
Limestone
1960s Italian Vintage Renaissance Furniture
Art Glass
16th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Furniture
Earthenware
18th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Wood
1860s French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Enamel, Bronze
Late 17th Century Dutch Antique Renaissance Furniture
Oak
Early 2000s Italian Renaissance Furniture
Gold