Medieval Paintings
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.
16th Century Italian Antique Medieval Paintings
Paint
16th Century Italian Antique Medieval Paintings
Paint
Mid-20th Century German Medieval Paintings
Wood
Mid-20th Century German Medieval Paintings
Wood
Mid-20th Century German Medieval Paintings
Wood
19th Century British Antique Medieval Paintings
Canvas
2010s French Medieval Paintings
Leather
Mid-20th Century American Medieval Paintings
Canvas, Paint
Mid-20th Century North American Medieval Paintings
Canvas, Hardwood
Mid-20th Century Italian Medieval Paintings
Fabric
1930s American Vintage Medieval Paintings
Masonite
1910s Austrian Vintage Medieval Paintings
Porcelain
20th Century Czech Medieval Paintings
Leather, Canvas, Wood, Paint
19th Century Russian Antique Medieval Paintings
Brass
20th Century American Medieval Paintings
Canvas, Wood, Paint
1930s American Vintage Medieval Paintings
Canvas, Hardwood, Paint
Early 2000s American Medieval Paintings
Paper
Mid-20th Century Medieval Paintings
Other
Early 20th Century American Medieval Paintings
Wood, Paint
17th Century European Antique Medieval Paintings
Copper
18th Century Peruvian Antique Medieval Paintings
Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Medieval Paintings
Paint, Paper
Late 20th Century Caribbean Medieval Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Late 19th Century English Antique Medieval Paintings
Maple, Paper
Mid-20th Century Indian Medieval Paintings
Paper
1980s Indonesian Vintage Medieval Paintings
Glass, Wood
16th Century Italian Antique Medieval Paintings
Wood
16th Century Dutch Antique Medieval Paintings
Paint
Early 18th Century Greek Antique Medieval Paintings
Paint
1690s Italian Antique Medieval Paintings
Paint
16th Century Spanish Antique Medieval Paintings
Paint
16th Century Italian Antique Medieval Paintings
Paint
Late 19th Century French Antique Medieval Paintings
Canvas
Mid-20th Century Italian Medieval Paintings
Fabric
Late 20th Century English Medieval Paintings
Paint, Wood
16th Century Belgian Antique Medieval Paintings
Copper
Early 1900s Italian Antique Medieval Paintings
Canvas
19th Century Antique Medieval Paintings
Hardwood, Paint