Medieval Coffee and Cocktail Tables
The Middle Ages in Europe followed the end of the Roman Empire, and in this time of change, which preceded the Renaissance, furniture was simple and utilitarian, with most homes having only the necessities like chests and benches. Much of medieval furniture, which was often made in oak or walnut, was built for the elite, particularly the emerging merchant class who owned multiple homes.
Life for many in the medieval era was unstable, and furniture was designed to be functional and portable. Peasants worked the fields for affluent landowners and didn’t have access to literature in the way that nobles and people of the church did (women less so than men). The furniture in their modest dwellings was typically limited to cookware and a handful of stools. Foldable chairs, while uncommon in homes of the early Middle Ages and emblematic of wealth, like all other furnishings of the time, allowed for easy transportation of a household. Trestle tables with detachable legs and collapsible beds were designed to be simply moved from place to place.
Medieval blanket chests were among the most important furniture objects and could further serve as tables or even beds. Some ancient traditions were carried forward to build this sturdy furniture, such as turnery. Although the furniture was minimally designed, embellishments like carvings added elegance to the heavy wood pieces. These details sometimes reflected trends in religious art like rose windows.
By the later Middle Ages, storage pieces like chests of drawers were often adorned with high relief carvings, such as geometric and floral motifs. By the 14th and 15th centuries, design had developed to include more involved pieces like cupboards and desks, while benches frequently doubled as chests with hinged seats. Beds also changed in this era from basic boards to four-post designs with large drapes to keep the sleeper warm. These beds and other medieval bedroom furniture were significant status symbols, passed down through families and used as places to conduct business and receive visitors.
Surviving examples of medieval furniture are very rare, yet its distinctive aesthetics influenced later styles like William and Mary and Arts and Crafts.
Find a collection of medieval seating, garden elements, decorative objects and other furniture on 1stDibs.
2010s American Medieval Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Wrought Iron
20th Century Spanish Medieval Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Iron, Wrought Iron, Metal
20th Century Spanish Medieval Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Iron, Wrought Iron
1960s Italian Vintage Medieval Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Hardwood, Paint
Mid-20th Century Saint Pierre and Miquelon Medieval Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Wrought Iron
16th Century French Antique Medieval Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Oak
Mid-20th Century French Medieval Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Wrought Iron
2010s German Medieval Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Stainless Steel
Mid-20th Century French Medieval Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Marble, Wrought Iron
21st Century and Contemporary Medieval Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary English Medieval Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Iron
2010s American Medieval Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Travertine
21st Century and Contemporary American Medieval Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Iron
20th Century English Medieval Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Brass
1950s Spanish Vintage Medieval Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Iron
1970s French Vintage Medieval Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Rattan, Glass
21st Century and Contemporary Medieval Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Medieval Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Resin, Wood
1970s Vintage Medieval Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Oak
Late 19th Century English Antique Medieval Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Wrought Iron
20th Century Spanish Medieval Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Wrought Iron, Iron, Gold Leaf
1960s Italian Vintage Medieval Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Wood, Paint
1890s French Antique Medieval Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Oak
1950s Vintage Medieval Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Late 19th Century French Antique Medieval Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Marble, Iron
Mid-19th Century Antique Medieval Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Iron
16th Century Irish Antique Medieval Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Slate
18th Century French Antique Medieval Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Oak
1880s French Antique Medieval Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Oak