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.
Impressive Hand-Tinted Albumen Mammoth Plate Print of Basilica San Marco Venice
By Paolo Salviati
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
Impressive Hand-Tinted Albumen Mammoth Plate Print of Basilica San Marco in Venice, circa 1880. Attributed to Paolo Salviati (1818-1894). Possibly the largest photographic image ...
Paper
‘Les Peintures des Taxidermistes’ No.6. Art Print Photo by Sinke & Van Tongeren
Located in Haarlem, NL
The third series of photographs by fine Taxidermists Sinke & Van Tongeren After observing and analysing so many 17th century paintings, they were inspired to create a new series of work focused on still life masterpieces. They chose photography as the medium to portray their fine Taxidermy work interpreted through vanitas still lifes. The collection, ‘Les Peintures des Taxidermistes’, comprises eight works. Vanitas still lifes were enormously popular in the 17th century, often inspired by biblical themes and the saying that “All is vanity”. It reminded the viewer of his or her own mortality. For these series of still lifes Sinke & van Tongeren not only created meaningful scenes of taxidermy, they also mined their enormous collection of great finds to gather the most beautiful and unusual antiques to complement each scene. Title of this work; ’RÉUNION D’OISEAUX ÉTRANGERS’ Cabinets of curiosity were of monumental importance in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Assembling them with interesting and rare objects was a competitive hobby amongst the elite, and to collect a great number of mounted species from everywhere in the world was the Holy Grail of the day. For ‘Réunion d’oiseaux étrangers’, we created that Holy Grail again, but this time stocking our cabinet with seemingly live species. This plentiful composition is staged in a cabinet with different boxes holding rare species such as a Toco Toucan, Scarlet ibis, Cock of the Rock...
Paper
$1,200Sale Price|50% Off
Corine C-Print by Christopher Draghi, Signed, Renaissance Style, 2010
Located in New York, NY
The Christopher Draghi limited edition C-Print, shown here, was taken in 2009. Titled, "Corine," Each print is signed and dated by the photographer. Artist Bio: Christopher D...
Wood, Paper
‘Les Peintures des Taxidermistes’ No.7. Art Print Photo by Sinke & Van Tongeren
Located in Haarlem, NL
The third series of photographs by fine Taxidermists Sinke & Van Tongeren After observing and analysing so many 17th-century paintings, they were inspired to create a new series of ...
Paper
Armor 29 C-Print by Christopher Draghi, Signed, Renaissance Style
Located in New York, NY
The Christopher Draghi limited edition C-Print, shown here, was taken in 2011. Titled, "Armor 29," Each print comes with a 1.5cm white border and is signed and dated by the photogr...
Wood, Paper
Armor 13 C-Print by Christopher Draghi, Signed, Renaissance Style
Located in New York, NY
The Christopher Draghi limited edition C-Print, shown here, was taken in 2011. Titled, "Armor 13," . Each print come with a 1.5cm white border and is signed and dated by the photog...
Wood, Paper
Large Albumen Photograph Panorama of the Rock of Gibraltar, circa 1870
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
Large Albumen photograph Panorama of The Rock of Gibraltar, circa 1870, Composed of three albumen prints, ca. 7" inches x 7 1/2" inches each, and l...
History of Italian Renaissance Art by Frederick Hartt, Hardcover, 1969
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
History of Italian Renaissance Art hardcover – January 1, 1969 by Frederick Hartt (Author), Color and B&W Illustration. History of Itali...
Paper
‘Les Peintures des Taxidermistes’ No. 3, Art Print Photo by Sinke & Van Tongeren
Located in Haarlem, NL
The third series of photographs by Fine Taxidermists Sinke & Van Tongeren After observing and analyzing so many 17th century paintings, they were inspired to create a new series of ...
Paper
$1,200Sale Price|50% Off
Mercury 2 C-Print by Christopher Draghi, Signed, Renaissance Style
Located in New York, NY
This Christopher Draghi "Mercury 2" photograph was taken in 2008. The limited edition C-print is available framed or unframed. Each print comes with a 1.5cm white border and is sig...
Wood, Paper
‘Les Peintures des Taxidermistes’ No.5, Art Print Photo by Sinke & Van Tongeren
Located in Haarlem, NL
The third series of photographs by Fine Taxidermists Sinke & Van Tongeren After observing and analyzing so many 17th century paintings, they were inspired to create a new series of work focused on still life masterpieces. They chose photography as the medium to portray their fine taxidermy work interpreted through vanitas still life's. The collection, ‘Les Peintures des Taxidermistes’, comprises eight works. Vanitas still lifes were enormously popular in the 17th century, often inspired by biblical themes and the saying that “All is vanity”. It reminded the viewer of his or her own mortality. For these series of still lifes Sinke & van Tongeren not only created meaningful scenes of taxidermy, they also mined their enormous collection of great finds to gather the most beautiful and unusual antiques to complement each scene. Title of this work; ’LA SURVIE DU PLUS FORT‘ Rich textiles are pulled back to reveal a Dutch antique bible that is almost hidden under the powerful presence of the Nile Crocodile skull under an American Alligator skull...
Paper
‘Les Peintures des Taxidermistes’ No. 1. Art Print Photo by Sinke & Van Tongeren
Located in Haarlem, NL
The third series of photographs by fine Taxidermists Sinke & Van Tongeren. After observing and analysing so many 17th century paintings, they were inspired to create a new series of work focused on still life masterpieces. They chose photography as the medium to portray their Fine Taxidermy work interpreted through vanitas still lifes. The collection, ‘Les Peintures des Taxidermistes’, comprises eight works. Vanitas still lifes were enormously popular in the 17th century, often inspired by biblical themes and the saying that “All is vanity...
Paper
‘Les Peintures des Taxidermistes’ No. 4. Art Print Photo by Sinke & Van Tongeren
Located in Haarlem, NL
The third series of photographs by fine Taxidermists Sinke & Van Tongeren After observing and analysing so many 17th century paintings, they were inspired to create a new series of ...
Paper
‘Les Peintures Des Taxidermistes’ No. 2. Art Print Photo by Sinke & Van Tongeren
Located in Haarlem, NL
The third series of photographs by fine taxidermists Sinke & Van Tongeren After observing and analysing so many 17th-century paintings, they were inspired to create a new series of ...
Paper
$5,200Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 25 in W 21 in D 3 in
Early 19th Century English Pair of Regency Period Portraits
Located in North Miami, FL
Early 19th Century English Pair of Regency Period Portraits. Full length portraits of a husband and wife in a household setting oil on wood panel. Bot...
Wood, Paint
$1,450 / set
H 24 in W 24 in D 2.5 in
A pair of circa 1870 Albumen Prints after Bertel Thorvaldsen Reliefs
Located in Sleepy Hollow, NY
A handsome pair of large 19th-century albumen prints after the celebrated neoclassical bas-reliefs by the renowned Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770–1844), dating to approxima...
Glass, Walnut, Paper
$12,500
H 21 in W 25 in D 1.75 in
Ruth Bernhard Signed Gelatin Silver Photograph Print Perspective II, 1967
By Ruth Bernhard 1
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautiful and timeless image/photographic print by famed German-American photographer/artist Ruth Bernhard (1905-2006). This classic feminine nude study is titled "Perspective II". The gelatin silver photographic print is hand pencil signed by Bernhard in the lower right margin and hand pencil signed, titled, and dated (the original image was created in 1967. This is likely a later printing) with her photographer's stamp on the verso. Provenance: Peter Fetterman Gallery, Los Angeles (please see image of the original gallery purchase receipt). Ruth Bernard...
Paper
Black & White Silver Print of a Nude
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A beautifully shot black and white nude photograph in a custom white gold leaf frame. Although signed by the photographer, we have not...
Malick Sidibé - The Sarakolé Family - Signed print
By Malick Sidibe
Located in Paris, FR
Malick Sidibé, "The Sarakolé Family", shot in 1969, printed and signed in 2006. Silver print, baryta paper. Framed. Malick Sidibé (1936-2016) is today considered one of the greatest...
Paper
$553
H 19.3 in W 13.39 in D 0.2 in
Original Photo Limited to Photography by Helmut Newton Printed in 2002
Located in Sofia, BG
Here we present a large photo, limited to original Photography by Helmut Newton (1920-2004) that was printed in 2002.
Paper
$4,800
H 27.56 in W 35.44 in D 0.79 in
Massimo Vitali - Venezia San Marco - Offset Photolitograph - Limited Edition
Located in Paris, FR
Massimo Vitali - Venezia San Marco Offset Photolitograph (90x70 cm) from A Portfolio of Landscapes and Figures printed on Royal Consort Paper by Steidl Verlag for Brancolini Grimaldi...
Paper
$8,500 / item
H 13.4 in W 20.2 in D 5 in
Salgado, Amazônia, Signed Sumo Book with Black & White Photographic Print
By Sebastião Salgado, TASCHEN, Renzo Piano
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This Sumo-sized art edition (No. 301–400), designed by Lélia Wanick Salgado and signed by Sebastião Salgado, is presented with a clothbound companion volume, the signed print The Par...
Steel
$2,353
H 18 in W 22 in D 0.1 in
‘Les Peintures des Taxidermistes’ No.5, Art Print Photo by Sinke & Van Tongeren
Located in Haarlem, NL
The third series of photographs by Fine Taxidermists Sinke & Van Tongeren After observing and analyzing so many 17th century paintings, they were inspired to create a new series of work focused on still life masterpieces. They chose photography as the medium to portray their fine taxidermy work interpreted through vanitas still life's. The collection, ‘Les Peintures des Taxidermistes’, comprises eight works. Vanitas still lifes were enormously popular in the 17th century, often inspired by biblical themes and the saying that “All is vanity”. It reminded the viewer of his or her own mortality. For these series of still lifes Sinke & van Tongeren not only created meaningful scenes of taxidermy, they also mined their enormous collection of great finds to gather the most beautiful and unusual antiques to complement each scene. Title of this work; ’LA SURVIE DU PLUS FORT‘ Rich textiles are pulled back to reveal a Dutch antique bible that is almost hidden under the powerful presence of the Nile Crocodile skull under an American Alligator skull...
Paper
$1,400 / set
H 32.25 in W 28.5 in D 0.75 in
Large Framed Black and White Action Photographic Prints of World Polo League
Located in Morristown, NJ
20th c., black and white photographic prints, matted and framed under glass. A pair of polo action shots that capture the intensity of play and the agility of player and polo pony al...
Glass, Wood, Paper
$795
H 21 in W 17 in D 1 in
John C Lewis Signed Limited Edition Silver Gelatin Photograph Print Mujer Divina
By John Lewis
Located in Studio City, CA
A gorgeous, dark, richly luminescent silver gelatin photographic print by American photographer John C. Lewis. This limited edition piece is titled "Mujer Divina, Michoacán, Mexico" (sometimes alternatively known as "Divine Woman, Michoacán, Mexico"). The work is pencil signed and numbered (5/25) by Lewis. A copy of this exact image can be found in the Getty Museum, Los Angeles. Lewis' work can be found in various collections and museums including: The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston The Wittliff Collections in Austin, Texas Ventura County...
Paper
$7,500
H 21.5 in W 17.25 in D 0.5 in
Horst P Horst Signed Photograph of Coco Chanel, Platinum Palladium Print, 1937
Located in CA, CA
Title: Gabrielle Coco Chanel Print: Platinum palladium print, printed on Strathmore cotton paper Date: circa 1937 Signature: Signed Horst in Pencil on Recto and Vesrso Created at the height of her fame this is one of the most beautiful photographs of Coco Chanel in which Horst reveals her gentler side. Horst's arrangement of the furnishings, fabrics and lighting creates...
Paper
Sold
H 22 in W 18 in D 0.1 in
‘Les Peintures des Taxidermistes’ No. 1. Art Print Photo by Sinke & Van Tongeren
Located in Haarlem, NL
The third series of photographs by fine Taxidermists Sinke & Van Tongeren. After observing and analysing so many 17th century paintings, they were inspired to create a new series of...
Sold
H 22 in W 22 in D 0.1 in
‘Les Peintures des Taxidermistes’ No.8. Art Print Photo by Sinke & Van Tongeren
Located in Haarlem, NL
The third series of photographs by fine Taxidermists Sinke & Van Tongeren After observing and analysing so many 17th century paintings, they were inspired to create a new series of ...
Paper