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.
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Rock Crystal, Silver
Late 17th Century Dutch Antique Renaissance Furniture
Ebony, Rosewood, Oak
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Marble, Statuary Marble
20th Century European Renaissance Furniture
Limestone
16th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
1850s English Antique Renaissance Furniture
Paper
2010s Italian Renaissance Furniture
Glass
17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Gesso, Canvas, Giltwood
20th Century Renaissance Furniture
Marble, Bronze
Early 20th Century Italian Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
16th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
Early 1900s French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Oak
1990s North American Renaissance Furniture
Marble
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Leather
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Ebony, Satinwood, Burl
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Renaissance Furniture
Stone
Late 20th Century American Renaissance Furniture
Paint
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Gesso, Wood
17th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Brass
16th Century European Antique Renaissance Furniture
Wood, Walnut
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Brass
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Marble
1920s German Vintage Renaissance Furniture
Canvas, Paint
Early 20th Century Italian Renaissance Furniture
Terracotta
Early 1900s English Antique Renaissance Furniture
Paper
1850s English Antique Renaissance Furniture
Paper
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Renaissance Furniture
Bronze
16th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Furniture
Earthenware, Maiolica
Late 19th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Oak
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Wood
20th Century Italian Renaissance Furniture
Wood
1720s Dutch Antique Renaissance Furniture
Paper
Late 20th Century Renaissance Furniture
Marble
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Iron
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
1890s Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Fabric, Wood
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Marble
2010s Renaissance Furniture
Mahogany
Early 17th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
20th Century Unknown Renaissance Furniture
Iron, Wrought Iron
18th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Hardwood
17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Stone, Marble, Metal, Iron, Wrought Iron
Early 1800s Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Wood, Gesso, Canvas
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Canvas
Mid-20th Century Italian Renaissance Furniture
Blown Glass
19th Century British Antique Renaissance Furniture
Fabric
2010s Italian Renaissance Furniture
Glass
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Bronze, Ormolu
1990s North American Renaissance Furniture
Glass, Mahogany
20th Century Italian Renaissance Furniture
Bronze
2010s Italian Renaissance Furniture
Glass
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Renaissance Furniture
Marble, Bronze
1990s French Renaissance Furniture
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Spanish Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Silk
Mid-20th Century Italian Renaissance Furniture
Blown Glass
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Wood, Paint
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Wood
Late 19th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Oak
19th Century Swiss Antique Renaissance Furniture
Glass, Giltwood, Paint