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.
17th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Iron
Late 19th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Marble
1910s German Vintage Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
16th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Furniture
Other
17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Wood, Giltwood
Mid-19th Century European Antique Renaissance Furniture
Leather, Mahogany
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Wood
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Marble
1990s American Renaissance Furniture
Giltwood
1990s North American Renaissance Furniture
Glass, Mahogany
Early 1800s Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Wood, Gesso, Canvas
19th Century Antique Renaissance Furniture
Velvet, Wood
16th Century German Antique Renaissance Furniture
Leather, Paper
Early 20th Century Unknown Renaissance Furniture
Pewter
18th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
Late 20th Century Renaissance Furniture
Marble
19th Century American Antique Renaissance Furniture
Canvas
1990s Italian Renaissance Furniture
Sterling Silver
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Iron
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Wood
2010s Renaissance Furniture
Wood
19th Century British Antique Renaissance Furniture
Fabric
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Rock Crystal, Silver
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Bronze
17th Century Antique Renaissance Furniture
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Renaissance Furniture
Stone, Limestone
17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Bronze
Mid-20th Century Italian Renaissance Furniture
Blown Glass
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Wood, Walnut
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Chestnut
Early 19th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Furniture
Oak
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Canvas
16th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Furniture
Other
19th Century Portuguese Antique Renaissance Furniture
Rosewood
15th Century and Earlier Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
18th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Gold Leaf
17th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Mirror, Giltwood
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Maiolica
2010s Renaissance Furniture
Mahogany
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Wood, Walnut, Burl
2010s Italian Renaissance Furniture
Chestnut, Poplar, Walnut, Fir
Late 18th Century Portuguese Antique Renaissance Furniture
Brass
20th Century Italian Renaissance Furniture
Metal
Early 20th Century Italian Renaissance Furniture
Terracotta
16th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Wood
2010s Italian Renaissance Furniture
Glass
2010s Italian Renaissance Furniture
Glass
16th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
19th Century British Antique Renaissance Furniture
17th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Early 20th Century Italian Renaissance Furniture
Porcelain
16th Century German Antique Renaissance Furniture
Wood, Walnut
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Ormolu, Bronze
2010s Renaissance Furniture
Mahogany
Early 18th Century Dutch Antique Renaissance Furniture
Oak





