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.
$2,185 / item
Dropside Sofa Table
Located in Annville, PA
This is another item in the Niagara Furniture lyre collection, our Dropside Sofa Table has a beautifully crafted top featuring figural mahogany and sati...
Mahogany
Antique French Carved Oak Barley Twist Sofa Table Corinthian Renaissance c1890
Located in Choudrant, LA
Direct from France, a very unique antique French carved oak table~ ~Four large columns, each consisting of four separate barley twist posts set...
Oak
$3,950
H 46 in W 35.5 in D 22 in
Antique French Petite Barley Twist Desk Carved Oak Renaissance Revival c.1890
Located in Tyler, TX
BEAUTIFUL Antique French Oak Louis XIII Style Renaissance Revival Writing Desk with Drawers and Barley Twist Legs and Stretcher ~~c. 1890s With so many people working from home, DES...
Oak
Regency Black Japanned Sofa Table
Located in Essex, MA
Regency japanned sofa table. Rectangular with drop leaf ends over frieze drawers. Trestle base with scrolled stretcher. Saber legs ending on brass cast...
Oak, Pine
ZETA Expanding Sofa Table
Located in Portland, OR
Trestle sofa table with crisp yet soft and warm lines perfect for transition, mid-century modern, and contemporary dining rooms and living rooms. Compact when leaf is folded down, a...
Cherry, Maple, Oak, Walnut
Antique Dutch Oak Farm Table, Kitchen Table, Sofa Table
Located in Viterbo, VT
Table hand-crafted in the Netherlands in the late 1800s using oak and pegged construction. The table is hand-made and shows fantastic and precise craftsmanship. The top is made of ch...
Oak
Tortoiseshell Parsons Style Sofa Table
Located in Redding, CT
Classic laminated parson sofa table with a marbled tortoiseshell finish . Perfect for behind a sofa or use as a lower console table
Laminate, Wood
$2,700
H 45 in W 54 in D 23.5 in
Antique French Table Hall Entry Console Sofa Table Two Drawers Oak C. 1890s
Located in Tyler, TX
CHARMING Antique French Renaissance revival oak entry, hall table, sofa table or console with drawers ~~c. 1890s Charming table with two drawers and carved crown~~perfect for use ...
Oak
$3,950
H 31 in W 59.5 in D 20 in
Antique Italian Renaissance Figural Carved Griffin Oak Flip Top Library Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Please message us with your zip code to request a more reasonable domestic U.S. shipping quote. Antique Italian Renaissance Revival Figural Carved Griffin Oak Flip Top Library Table...
Oak
$2,471Sale Price|25% Off
H 28.5 in W 66 in D 18 in
French Console Table Louis XV Giltwood Barley Twist
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description click on More Details below. Shipping Quote Information The shipping quote stated in the listing was from 1st Dibs and they normally set all the costs and handle all the shipping details. However, if you let us know what 1st Dibs is quoting you and give us your zip code, we can sometimes ship it for less and get it to you faster. For a shipping quote, click on "ASK THE SELLER" under the purchase button and provide your zip code. Offering One Of Our Recent Palm Beach Estate Fine Furniture Acquisitions Of A Mid-Century French Louis XV style giltwood barley twist console...
Glass, Giltwood
$19,000 / item
H 30 in W 120 in D 40 in
Expandable Barley Twist Dining Table in Vintage Walnut, By Petersen Antiques
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This custom dining table has barley twist legs made from reclaimed walnut. The base has a darker finish and the top is bleached with satin lacquer finish. The barley twist legs are masterfully hand-carved to perfect mirror image spirals. As shown, the table is 40 x 100 x 30...
Walnut
Regency Rosewood Sofa Table
Located in Essex, MA
Rectangular with drop leaves, metal beaded edge, two-drawer frieze with opposing sham drawers, raised on trestle base, saber legs, casters.
Rosewood
English Regency Mahogany Sofa Table
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
English regency mahogany sofa table, early 19th century. With a mahogany top with burl ash crossbanding and two D shaped drop leaves on either end, two frieze drawers on the front si...
Brass
Carved Oak Barley Twist Console Table with Shelves, 1890s
Located in BÉTERA, ES
Antique carved oak console table featuring finely turned barley twist legs and rich floral carving to the apron. The piece is fitted with two functional drawers at the front and a li...
Hardwood, Oak
$8,655 / item
H 28.75 in W 79.53 in D 20.48 in
Etruscan Factory Sofa Table-Raw Oak and Ebonized Steel Sofa Table
Located in Lisciano Niccone, Perugia
A raw oak and ebonized steel sofa table B.B. - Inspired by Etruscan designs, it can be used either behind a sofa or as a great object table against the wall. Its construction allows...
Oak
Pair of Regency Mahogany Sofa Tables
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A rare and good quality pair of Regency period Mahogany, and rosewood sofa tables. Having rosewood crossbanding, boxwood stringing and brass inlay. Two mahogany lined drawers to one ...
Rosewood
George IV Carved Goncalo Alves Library or Sofa Table
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in London, GB
A Fine Library Table in the manner of Gillows of Lancaster Constructed in a very fine and distinctively marked Brazilian goncalo alves; of end support form, rising from a scrolled s...
Wood
French Burl and Iron Console
Located in Westwood, NJ
French Caledonia burl wood and wrought iron console table. Dimensions: 84" W x 21" D x 31 5/8" H.
Wrought Iron
Late 16th C. Spanish Walnut Console Thick Walnut Top
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Late 16th c. / solidly 17th c. Spanish walnut console with 2” thick walnut top. Walnut Measures: H: 31 D: 25 W: 80.5.
Walnut
Henri II Table in Walnut from the 19th Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Superb and original Henri II oval table in walnut from the 19th century Very beautiful table with a one-piece walnut top and a very beautiful columned base connected by a spacer ...
Walnut
French Renaissance Style Library Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
A fine French Renaissance walnut carved library table. This elaborately carved table is a wonderful homage to the early European craftsman. The Fine table is decorated with carvi...
Walnut
Sold
H 29.75 in W 40.75 in D 29 in
19th century French Carved Oak Dolphin Sofa Table Desk Renaissance Gothic
Located in Choudrant, LA
Antique French carved oak dolphin sofa table desk Renaissance Gothic 19th c ~Direct from France~ An elegant antique French carved library table or "burea...
Oak
Sold
H 27.5 in W 45 in D 29.75 in
Antique French Carved Oak Dolphin Sofa Table Desk Renaissance Gothic 19th c
Located in Choudrant, LA
Antique French Carved Oak Dolphin Sofa Table Desk Renaissance Gothic 19th c ~Direct from France~ An elegant antique French carved library table or "burea...
Oak
Sold
H 31.5 in W 62.5 in D 21.25 in
Antique Italian Renaissance Style Solid Carved Walnut Console, Florence 1820
Located in Encinitas, CA
Exceptional Renaissance style hand carved detail is exhibited in this solid Italian walnut console, with dentil decoration under the slab top with end frames. Elegant Corinthian colu...
Walnut
Sold
H 35.25 in W 55.25 in D 19.5 in
Antique French Carved Foyer Sofa Table Renaissance Marble Planter Hercules Lion
Located in Choudrant, LA
Antique French carved foyer sofa table Renaissance marble planter Hercules lion ~Direct from France~ ~Gorgeous, heavily carved antique foyer or sofa ...
Marble
Sold
H 27.25 in W 23 in D 18.25 in
19th Century Petite French Carved Oak Sofa Side Table Renaissance Black Forest
Located in Choudrant, LA
19th century Petite French carved oak sofa side table Renaissance Black Forest ~Direct from France~ ~A wonderful antique French carved oak table...
Oak
Sold
H 24.5 in W 33.25 in D 20.25 in
Antique French Carved Oak Sofa Side Accent Table Renaissance Cherub Trestle
Located in Choudrant, LA
Antique French carved oak sofa side accent table Renaissance Cherub Trestle ~Direct from France~ ~Lovely antique French side table, generously carv...
Oak
Sold
H 29 in W 46.5 in D 31 in
19th century French Carved Oak Desk Sofa Side Table Dolphin Renaissance Gothic
Located in Choudrant, LA
19th century French carved oak desk sofa side table dolphin Renaissance Gothic ~Direct from France~ ~An elegant antique French carved oak library table ...
Oak
Italian Inlaid Stone and Marble Pietra Dura Table
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Stunning white marble with stone inlay Pietra Dura trestle table. The inlaid top with vibrantly colored inlaid store resting on two shapely bases with matched inlay. The inner corner...
Marble, Carrara Marble
French Burl and Iron Console
Located in Westwood, NJ
French Caledonia burl wood and wrought iron console table. Dimensions: 84" W x 21" D x 31 5/8" H.
Wrought Iron
French Renaissance Style Library Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
A fine French Renaissance walnut carved library table. This elaborately carved table is a wonderful homage to the early European craftsman. The Fine table is decorated with carvi...
Walnut
Sold
H 29.5 in W 35.5 in D 24 in
19th Century French Carved Oak Dolphin Library Desk Table Renaissance Gothic
Located in Choudrant, LA
~Direct from France~ ~A wonderful antique French carved oak library tale or “bureau plat” desk, commonly referred to as a ‘dolphin’ table, so called for the ornately carved “dolphin...
Oak