Medieval Wall Decorations
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.
Early 20th Century European Medieval Wall Decorations
Stone
18th Century Spanish Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Wood, Pine
18th Century Spanish Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Wood, Pine
Mid-20th Century French Medieval Wall Decorations
Cotton, Wool
1880s English Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Paper
18th Century Spanish Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Wood, Pine
1880s English Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Paper
15th Century and Earlier Spanish Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Parchment Paper, Wood
Mid-20th Century French Medieval Wall Decorations
Wool, Cotton
18th Century Spanish Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Wood, Pine
Mid-20th Century French Medieval Wall Decorations
Cotton
Early 20th Century Spanish Medieval Wall Decorations
Giltwood, Wood
Mid-20th Century French Medieval Wall Decorations
Cotton
1960s Belgian Vintage Medieval Wall Decorations
Fabric
18th Century Spanish Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Wood, Pine
1880s English Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Paper
Mid-20th Century French Medieval Wall Decorations
Wool
1880s English Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Paper
1880s English Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Paper
Mid-20th Century European Medieval Wall Decorations
Iron
19th Century European Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Paper, Glass
1880s English Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Paper
18th Century British Indian Ocean Territory Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Fabric
Early 19th Century French Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Canvas, Wood, Giltwood, Paint
Mid-20th Century French Medieval Wall Decorations
Wool, Cotton
1880s English Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Paper
Early 20th Century Belgian Medieval Wall Decorations
Brass, Bronze
1980s French Vintage Medieval Wall Decorations
Fabric, Cotton
1880s English Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Paper
1980s French Vintage Medieval Wall Decorations
Wool
1880s English Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Paper
Mid-19th Century French Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Glass, Wood, Paper, Oak, Ash
1880s English Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Paper
1880s English Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Paper
1880s English Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Paper
Late 19th Century English Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Wood, Oak
1880s English Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Paper
1880s English Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Paper
1880s English Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Paper
1880s English Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Paper
1970s French Vintage Medieval Wall Decorations
Fabric, Cotton
1880s English Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Paper
Mid-18th Century British Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Canvas, Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century French Medieval Wall Decorations
Wool
Mid-20th Century French Medieval Wall Decorations
Wool, Cotton
1880s English Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Paper
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Silver
1880s English Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Paper
1880s English Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Paper
20th Century Italian Medieval Wall Decorations
Bronze
1880s English Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Paper
1880s English Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Paper
1880s English Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Paper
1880s English Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Paper
1880s English Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Paper
1880s English Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Paper
1880s English Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Paper
1880s English Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Paper
1880s English Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Paper
1880s English Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Paper
1880s English Antique Medieval Wall Decorations
Paper