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 French Carved Walnut Side Table, End Table, Nightstand
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This small scale French Henri II style walnut side table from the late nineteenth century is of hand pegged construction and features a beveled top detailed with an egg and dart moti...
Iron
Antique Italian Walnut Burl Inlay Console Side Table with Bobbin Turned Legs
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful antique Italian solid walnut side coffee table console with veneer wood inlay decor and framed top over four beautifully walnut Bobbin turned twisted carved side legs, conn...
Wood
Antique Italian Hexagonal Walnut Side Table or Stool with Bobbin Turned Legs
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful antique Italian solid walnut side table or stool features hexagonal top with beveled edges over six beautifully bobbin turned barley twisted legs, connected to one another ...
Wood
Antique Italian Walnut Console Desk Side Table with Carved Legs
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful antique Italian solid walnut side table console desk with four beautiful walnut carved legs connected to one another with central decorated stretchers and detailed by the b...
Wood
Antique French Carved Oak Sofa Side Table Petite Desk Renaissance Gothic
Located in Shreveport, LA
19th century French Carved Oak Dolphin Library Table Petite Desk Renaissance. Direct from France, an elegant, and petite, antique French carved sofa...
Oak
Antique Italian Walnut Desk Side Table with Cabriole Carved Legs
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful antique Italian solid walnut side table with four beautiful walnut cabriole carved legs and detailed by the shaped corners, beveled top and central drawer with brass handle...
Wood
Oscar Bach Attributed Figural Bronze Marble Top Telephone Hall Stand with Chair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Oscar Bach Attributed Figural Bronze Marble Top Telephone Hall Stand with Chair. Item features an ornate figural bronze telephone cabinet stand, marble top, small chair with needlepoint seat...
Marble, Bronze
Italian Renaissance Figural Carved Marble Top Side Table with Winged Cherub Head
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Italian Renaissance Figural Carved Marble Top Side Table with Winged Cherub Head. Item features has an inset marble top, figural carved 3 dimensional winged cherub head, stretcher ba...
Marble
Late 19th Century French Henri II Style Walnut Writing Table or Desk with Drawer
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This late 19th century French Henri II Renaissance style hand pegged walnut writing table or side table is finished on all sides, allowing it to be placed in the center of a room. It...
Walnut
Heavily Carved Renaissance Style Figural Salon Table
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A heavily carved salon table egg and dart carved edge trim, carved apron with arched frieze with masks. The table supported by four detailed figural supports conjoined with an elabor...
Wood
Antique Italian Walnut Side Coffee Table with Bobbin Turned Legs
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful antique Italian solid walnut side table features rectangular top with beveled edges over four beautifully bobbin turned barley twisted legs, connected to one another with c...
Wood
$9,300 / item
Pair of Italian Gilt Grotto Tables
Located in Westwood, NJ
An unusual pair of Grotto tables, the rounded 'D' shaped flame mahogany and rosewood crossbanded top above a gilt metal cast base of a giant clamshell ...
Aluminum
PETITE Antique French Octagon Center Side TABLE Side End Renaissance Carved Oak
Located in Shreveport, LA
PETITE Antique French Octagon Center Side TABLE Side End Renaissance Carved Oak. Direct from France, this SUPER PETITE size octagon table, ornately adorned, just like the full-size ...
Oak
$4,650 / item
Italian Gilt Grotto Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
An unusual Grotto table, the rounded 'D' shaped flame mahogany and rosewood crossbanded top above a gilt metal cast base of a giant clamshell supported by...
Aluminum
Stripped 19th Century French Oak Renaissance Style Table with Marble Top
Located in Dallas, TX
As is the case with most French Renaissance style furniture, this beautiful stripped oak table with marble top features elaborate sculptural ornamen...
Marble, Metal, Brass
Antique French Renaissance Figural Walnut Winged Sphinx Resin Top Side Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Renaissance Figural Walnut Winged Sphinx Resin Top Side Table. Item features solid carved walnut winged sphinx figures, triangular ...
Resin, Walnut
Italian Walnut Renaissance Style Side Table with Carved Griffin Legs, Marble Top
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An Italian Renaissance style side table, of carved walnut, having a rectangular marble top, in molded frame, raised on legs hand-carved as griffins, joi...
Marble
19th C. French Louis XIII Revival Octagonal Walnut Side Table with Slate Top
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant antique octagonal side table was crafted in France circa 1880 and exemplifies the Louis XIII Revival style through its architectural form and robust walnut construction....
Slate
Dutch Renaissance Style Stained Oak Table, circa 1680
Located in Casteren, NL
This beautiful renaissance table is made in the finest quality solid European summer oak in the Netherlands around 1680 It is a typical dutch renaissance table (so called bolpoottafe...
Oak
Antique Renaissance Revival Carved Winged Maiden Walnut Mirror Top Side Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Renaissance Revival Carved Winged Maiden Walnut Mirror Top Small Side Table. Item featured mirrored top appears to be a replacement and is not original, very nice antique tab...
Mirror, Walnut
$6,650Sale Price|65% Off
An Italian Walnut Octagonal Library Table, 17th Century
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
An Italian Walnut Octagonal Library Table, 17th Century A small Italian walnut library table with moulded octagonal top and hollow rounded dentil cornice over a panelled square frie...
Walnut
$16,244 / set
Two Antique Iron and Specimen Marble Console Tables
Located in London, GB
These tables feature beautiful specimen marble tops which were crafted in Italy in the 18th century. The tops are inlaid with a variety of marble types, cut into diamond-shaped block...
Marble, Iron
Bronze Side Table with Mythological Figures & Black Marble Top
Located in Yonkers, NY
A bronze style side table from the mid-20th century with black marble top. Created with the traditional technique of the lost-wax (à la cire perdue) that allows for great precision a...
Bronze
17th Century Spanish Table in Walnut
Located in Brussels, Brussels
superb table or consolde in walnut of the Spanish renaissance with a drawer in its center of the 17th century Original irons and lock very nice work on the drawer Superb patin...
Walnut
Renaissance Spanish Occassional Table circa 1600 in Walnut
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Spanish Renaissance walnut table circa 1600 Sublime small table with a beautiful large walnut top. Very interesting base with turned le...
Walnut
Antique Italian Hexagonal Walnut Side Table or Stool with Bobbin Turned Legs
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful antique Italian solid walnut side table or stool features hexagonal top with beveled edges over six beautifully bobbin turned barley twisted legs, connected to one another ...
Wood
Antique Italian Hexagonal Black Walnut Side Table Stool with Bobbin Turned Legs
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful antique Italian solid walnut side table, features hexagonal top with beveled edges over six beautifully bobbin turned legs, connected to one another with star shaped centra...
Wood
Micromosaic Circular Table, Attributed to the Vatican Mosaic Workshop
By Vatican Mosaic Studio
Located in London, GB
This table is a truly exceptional piece of antique Italian furniture. The item has been attributed to the Vatican Mosaic Workshop (opened 1727). This studio was made up of a collecti...
Malachite, Marble
$2,349 / item
Portuguese Buffet Table 19th Century Rosewood
Located in Madrid, ES
SMALL PORTUGUESE BUFFET 19th Century in Rosewood in rosewood wood, shaky friezes, turned legs and beams, bronze fittings. Dim.: 60 x 69 x 46 cm. Good condition
Rosewood
Antique Italian Hexagonal Walnut Side Table
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful antique Italian solid walnut side table with hexagonal beveled edges top standing on three carved legs and various gilt decors. This Italian walnut side table with the rich...
Wood
Italian 19th Century Renaissance St. Rosewood and Alabastro Side/Cocktail Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking and very unique Italian 19th century Renaissance st. Rosewood and Alabastro side/cocktail table. The table is raised by lovely circular mottled feet below exceptional and ...
Marble
Pair of Renaissance Style Fruitwood French Doors Side Tables Nightstands
Located in Germantown, MD
Pair of Renaissance style walnut side tables / nightstands. Panelized French doors open to reveal a top dovetailed drawer and bottom large storage area. Very good vintage condition...
Walnut
19th Century Italian Renaissance Style Side Table
Located in Sheffield, MA
Italian Renaissance style wrought iron end table with lyre style metal base and marble top.
Marble, Metal
Set of 4 Antique Italian Walnut Side Tables or Stools with Carved Turned Legs
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful set of 4 antique Italian solid walnut side tables or stools with squared and beveled seat or top standing on four beautifully carved legs. This Italian walnut stools or sid...
Wood
Early 19th Century French Table
Located in High Point, NC
19th century French table made from walnut. The top is beautifully detailed with cross banding around the edges in a lovely pattern surrounding a central pattern with burl in a match...
Walnut
$1,500Sale Price|25% Off
Antique 19th Century Patinated Bronze and Glass Putti Side Table
Located in Las Vegas, NV
This table is a beautiful accent piece. A series of 3 putti cherub figures constructed completely of solid, cast bronze that has perfectly patinaed over the years. We adore how the...
Bronze
19th Century Convertible Pair of Monk's Chair or End Table, Foldable Armchair
Located in Miami, FL
19th century convertible monk's chair is cleverly engineered to provide two uses. Seat back down, it's a table, seatback up it's an armchair. Sculpted from solid oak, it features carving on both sides of the tabletop or seatback so it's attractive no matter what mode it's in. An ingenious space-saver, circa 1870s, in the manner of Stephen Hedges...
Velvet, Oak
19th Spanish Baroque Side Table with Iron Stretcher and Carved Top in Walnut
Located in Miami, FL
19th Spanish Baroque ebonized side table with iron stretcher and carved top in walnut.
Iron
$1,700 / item
Oak and Handcarved Marble Side Table
By Loyzaga
Located in Mexico, Ciudad de México
Florence side table, This table is inspired in the floors of one of our favorite Palaces in Florence. We reinterpreted the complex forms of the marble to more simple lines so they...
Marble
Italian 19th Century Renaissance St. Specimen Marble And Micro-Mosaic Side Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most decorative Italian 19th century Renaissance st. Ebonized Fruitwood, Specimen marble and Micro-Mosaic side table. The table is raised on a tripod base with three 'C' scrolled l...
Marble
French 19th Century Renaissance Style Patinated Bronze Tazza Designed Side Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A very handsome French 19th century Renaissance St. patinated bronze tazza-designed side table, signed E. Picault, Salon 1867. Raised on ormolu topie shaped feet below a triangular concave-sided black Belgian marble base. Patinated bronze supports with paw feet topped by satyr busts...
Belgian Black Marble, Ormolu