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.
Antique Italian Serpentine Marble Pedestal
Located in Paddock Wood Tonbridge, GB
Antique Italian Marble Pedestal A serpentine marble pedestal stand produced around 1880 with carved fish and foliate, age related wear with a few chips and losses as to be expected ...
Marble
Rho Mobili D’Epoca Italian Renaissance Style Inlaid Pedestal Center Table
By Rho Mobili d'Epoca 1
Located in Toledo, OH
Beautiful side or center burl wood pedestal table by Rho Mobili D'Epoca in the Italian Renaissance style with a rope turned Corinthian leaf pedestal and brass claw feet. The top is i...
Brass
French 19th Century Renaissance Style Bronze and Ormolu Vide Poche Tazza/Stand
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most impressive French 19th century Renaissance style patinated bronze and ormolu side table or Vide Poche tazza. The tazza is raised by handsome patinated bronze hoof feet with or...
Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of Antique Italian Walnut Pedestals with Winged Griffin Bases
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Italian (19th Cent) walnut carved winged griffin base pedestals on square base.
Walnut
$6,500 / set
Pair of Italian Renaissance Style Pedestals
Located in Sheffield, MA
Pair of unusual Italian Renaissance style terracotta pedestals. Perfect as console table, dining table base or sofa table bases. Keywords: console table, neoclassical
Terracotta
$1,235 / item
NCMP013 Mahogany Dining Table Pedestal
Located in Annville, PA
From Niagara Furniture, a high quality, solid mahogany dining table pedestal with solid brass capped feet. Ideal for use as replacements for vintage dining tables. Dovetailed joints,...
Mahogany
Early 20th Century Renaissance Turned Columns Pedestals in Walnut
Located in Miami, FL
Early 20th century Renaissance turned columns pedestals in walnut with bronze details.
Bronze
Hand-Carved English Renaissance Oak Lectern, Square Base, Circa 1890
Located in Queens, NY
English Renaissance style (19/20th Cent) stained oak square based lectern with carved shield sides.
Oak
$3,767
H 28.15 in Dm 16.74 in
Tommaso Barbi Octagonal Table Pedestal in Burl Wood and Brass, Italy, 1970
Located in Roma, IT
Incredible octagonal pedestal table designed and signed by Tomasso Barbi, this fantastic piece was produced in Italy in the 1970s. This gorgeous column is fully made in briarwood...
Brass
Pair of Antique Swedish Neoclassical Late Empire Pedestals
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of antique Empire Neoclassical Swedish pedestals painted ebony with gold accents.
Wood
$1,083Sale Price|20% Off
H 23.63 in Dm 13.39 in
Chinese Hardwood Carved Pedestal Table with Marble Inlaid Top, 1920s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Stunning and elegant Chinese pedestal table. Striking Chinese design from the 1920s. hand carved "Hongmu" wood (Chinese hardwood) base with original multicolored marble inlaid top. T...
Hardwood
Black marble pedestals
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of black marble pedestals with the height of 39 inches and width of 10 inches.
Marble
Octagon Plaster Dining Table Pedestal
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Unique octagonal pedestal, plaster over wood, faux finished to look like verdigris copper. Can be used as a table base or oversized pedestal. Base is in overall excellent vintage c...
Plaster
$2,500 / set
H 30 in W 10.5 in D 10.5 in
Pair of Vintage Mid-Century Modern Travertine Pedestals with Squre Profile Italy
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed and made in Italy, this pair of pedestals boils down the concept of a side table to its most simple form. Made of solid closed-pore travertine, and having the highly desirab...
Travertine
$25,000
H 29 in W 144 in D 47.25 in
English Mahogany Triple Pedestal Dining Room Table with Orig. Paw Casters C 1840
Located in Charleston, SC
English mahogany triple pedestal dining room table with three central fluted urn ringed pedestals, splayed reeded saber legs, and resting on the original lio...
Brass
Pair of Antique English Chinoiserie Pedestals
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Standout pair of 19th Century English pedestals or stands handcrafted in hardwood in an octagon form,featuring hand decorated floral Chinoiserie with embossed highlights on an eboniz...
Hardwood
Italian 19th Century Rolo Inlaid Center Table
Located in Atlanta, GA
A remarkable Italian mid-19th century Rolo center table, celebrated for the refined marquetry tradition of the renowned Rolo workshops in Reggio Emilia. The circular top is exquisite...
Wood
Pedestal black marble Table
Located in Mexico City, MX
Table in carved Monterrey black marble. Handmade in Mexico. Production time: 6-8 weeks for items without marble / 13-14 weeks for marble pieces. Shipping +10 additional business day...
Marble
Low Chinese Painted Table Stand, 19th Century
Located in Chicago, IL
Petite in scale and richly painted, this antique Chinese table stand brings charming texture to the modern home as a low pedestal or plant riser. The small chest has all the features...
Elm
19th Century French Napoleon Sellette Tiered Etagere Stand
Located in Forney, TX
This eclectic yet elegant Napoleon III period sellette (French, decorative furniture stand) was handcrafted in France in the mid-19th century, most likely Parisian work, solid wooden construction and sculptural form, presents in an ebonized finish with gilded brass mounted accents, featuring a tall round center pedestal surrounded by three scalloped shaped platforms of varied height, rising on parcel gilt fluted column standards, resting on sabre legs. circa 1860 A most distinctive piece, highly sophisticated and with great presence, with nicely aged patina over the whole, heavily worn and distressed finish adds a layer of cozy warmth and unpretentious rustic elegance. Versatile, having the ideal size and proportions for a variety of different uses, including as a jardiniere or cache pot holder, add a romantic warm ambiance as a candle torchiere...
Brass
Polychrome Holzfigur Mohrenfigur Blumensäule Renaissance-Stil um 1890
Located in Aachen, DE
Blumensäule des ausgehenden 19. Jahrhunderts in der Gestalt einer renaissance-typischen Mohrenfigur. Höhe 108cm, die Farbfassung teilweise stark berieben, z.T. lose, der rückseitige...
Wood
17th Century French Oak Torchère Pedestal in Renaissance Style
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A fine quality 17th century torchère, or pedestal, with an elegantly turned column and deeply tiered circular base. The top surface is a flat polished disc with a finely carved and g...
Oak
Early 20th Century Carved Wood Renaissance Style Pedestal
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a dark wood tall pedestal. It depicts a quatrefoil shaped wood top hold up by four scalloped arcs, each one supported by two long legs that end in a scalloped arc attached to...
Wood
Sold
H 37.5 in W 20 in D 14 in
Antique Italian Renaissance Lion Bird Spiral Barley Walnut Plant Stand Pedestal
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Italian Renaissance lion bird spiral barley twist walnut plant stand pedestal. Item features lion head cravings, spiral barley twist column, ...
Walnut
Sold
H 29.73 in Dm 33.67 in
Pedestal Table/Side Table Originating From Denmark Made In Mahogany From 1860s
Located in Lejre, DK
The pedestal table or side table originating from Denmark and crafted from mahogany around the 1860s is a testament to the enduring beauty of Danish craftsmanship. This exquisite pi...
Mahogany
Sold
H 24.41 in Dm 23.63 in
19th Century Occasional Low Table Pedestal by Dini & Puccini Ebonized Walnut
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Precious antique 19th century occasional low table pedestal or coffee table in 20th century style by Dini and Puccini, Cascina Tuscany , in eb...
Walnut
Italian Renaissance Style Majolica Pedestal by Achille Mollica
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Italian Renaissance style Majolica pedestal by Achille Mollica With exquisite typical polychromed Renaissance painted decoration Marked to the unders...
Majolica
Early 20th Century Renaissance Turned Columns Pedestals in Walnut
Located in Miami, FL
Early 20th century Renaissance turned columns pedestals in walnut with bronze details We will restore the pieces before to be shipped.
Bronze
Sold
H 29.14 in W 20.48 in D 18.9 in
19th Century Renaissance Syle Carved Walnut Gueridon Table or Pedestal Table
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Rare and fine quality Italian renaissance style gueridon table or pedestal table. The table presents a refined carving work in walnut wood. Cherub heads on either side of the top and...
Walnut
19th Century Renaissance Pedestal
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century Renaissance pedestal is the ideal platform for your statuary, vases, or objects d'art! Carved on the top and lower shelf, all fou...
Oak
Sold
H 55.91 in W 24.41 in D 15.75 in
Two Ebonised Wood, Gilt Bronze and Pietra Dura Pedestal Cabinets
Located in London, GB
These pedestal-cabinets are sophisticated pieces of antique French furniture. They are crafted from ebonised wood which is inlaid with brass and mounted with decorative gilt bronze (...
Multi-gemstone, Ormolu, Brass, Bronze
Sold
H 49.22 in W 8.67 in D 8.67 in
18th Century Renaissance Pedestal Column Hand-Carved Walnut Restored Shallac
Located in Vigonza, Padua
18th century Renaissance pedestal column, hand-carved walnut, restored and finished shallac. Measure cm: H 125, W 22, D 22.
Walnut