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
Chestnut, Poplar, Walnut, Fir
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Wood, Paint
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Renaissance Furniture
Ceramic
15th Century and Earlier Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
Mid-18th Century Dutch Antique Renaissance Furniture
Oak
1990s Italian Renaissance Furniture
Bronze
18th Century Unknown Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
Mid-17th Century German Antique Renaissance Furniture
Marble
1870s French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Wood
18th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Mirror, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Renaissance Furniture
Marble
Early 17th Century Dutch Antique Renaissance Furniture
Ceramic, Majolica
1690s Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Pewter
16th Century Dutch Antique Renaissance Furniture
Mirror, Wood
Early 19th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Furniture
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Renaissance Furniture
Limestone
16th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
Early 20th Century Renaissance Furniture
Marble
16th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Furniture
Earthenware, Maiolica
Late 19th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Oak
Early 1800s Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Wood, Gesso, Canvas
1880s Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Faux Leather, Walnut
Early 20th Century Spanish Renaissance Furniture
Oak
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Marble, Statuary Marble
16th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Furniture
Earthenware
16th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
1980s North American Vintage Renaissance Furniture
Mahogany
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Wood
19th Century Portuguese Antique Renaissance Furniture
Wood
Early 20th Century Renaissance Furniture
Bronze
17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Tortoise Shell
17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
1920s Vintage Renaissance Furniture
Metal
16th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Furniture
Cotton
16th Century European Antique Renaissance Furniture
Other
Mid-17th Century Dutch Antique Renaissance Furniture
Steel
2010s Italian Renaissance Furniture
Glass
18th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Gold Leaf
16th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
18th Century Belgian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Wool, Silk
16th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
17th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Oak
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Majolica
17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Linen, Silk
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Canvas, Wood, Paint
18th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Furniture
Wood
Late 19th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Metal
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Wood, Paper
Mid-20th Century Italian Renaissance Furniture
Blown Glass
Late 17th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Fabric, Wool, Cotton, Silk
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Wood, Walnut
Late 19th Century American Antique Renaissance Furniture
Walnut
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Rock Crystal, Silver
Early 20th Century Spanish Renaissance Furniture
Oak
Early 1900s Spanish Antique Renaissance Furniture
Onyx, Bronze
17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Furniture
Silk, Velvet
Late 19th Century French Antique Renaissance Furniture
Oak