Medieval Wall-mounted Sculptures
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.
Late 20th Century Medieval Wall-mounted Sculptures
Metal
Early 20th Century French Medieval Wall-mounted Sculptures
Metal, Tin
19th Century French Antique Medieval Wall-mounted Sculptures
Walnut
Early 20th Century European Medieval Wall-mounted Sculptures
Stone
Late 19th Century Belgian Antique Medieval Wall-mounted Sculptures
Concrete, Iron
18th Century Spanish Antique Medieval Wall-mounted Sculptures
Wood, Pine
16th Century French Antique Medieval Wall-mounted Sculptures
Metal, Iron
Early 20th Century Belgian Medieval Wall-mounted Sculptures
Brass, Bronze
Early 20th Century Spanish Medieval Wall-mounted Sculptures
Giltwood, Parchment Paper
1950s Italian Vintage Medieval Wall-mounted Sculptures
Pine
19th Century French Antique Medieval Wall-mounted Sculptures
Giltwood
Late 20th Century Italian Medieval Wall-mounted Sculptures
Pine
Early 20th Century Belgian Medieval Wall-mounted Sculptures
Bronze
Early 20th Century European Medieval Wall-mounted Sculptures
Bronze
19th Century French Antique Medieval Wall-mounted Sculptures
Wood
Mid-18th Century Mexican Antique Medieval Wall-mounted Sculptures
Wood
1980s American Vintage Medieval Wall-mounted Sculptures
Steel
1950s American Vintage Medieval Wall-mounted Sculptures
Concrete, Iron
18th Century English Antique Medieval Wall-mounted Sculptures
Agate, Gold
19th Century Indonesian Antique Medieval Wall-mounted Sculptures
Wood
Late 19th Century French Antique Medieval Wall-mounted Sculptures
Bronze
1890s Italian Antique Medieval Wall-mounted Sculptures
Marble
19th Century French Antique Medieval Wall-mounted Sculptures
Plaster
Early 18th Century Italian Antique Medieval Wall-mounted Sculptures
Iron
19th Century French Antique Medieval Wall-mounted Sculptures
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Medieval Wall-mounted Sculptures
Wool, Jute
19th Century European Antique Medieval Wall-mounted Sculptures
Bronze
20th Century American Medieval Wall-mounted Sculptures
Metal
Mid-19th Century French Antique Medieval Wall-mounted Sculptures
Oak, Paint
Early 20th Century Italian Medieval Wall-mounted Sculptures
Pine
19th Century South Asian Antique Medieval Wall-mounted Sculptures
Iron, Wrought Iron
Mid-19th Century French Antique Medieval Wall-mounted Sculptures
Walnut
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Medieval Wall-mounted Sculptures
Walnut
20th Century Italian Medieval Wall-mounted Sculptures
Marble
16th Century Antique Medieval Wall-mounted Sculptures
Oak
Mid-19th Century French Antique Medieval Wall-mounted Sculptures
Walnut
Early 20th Century European Medieval Wall-mounted Sculptures
Wire
15th Century and Earlier French Antique Medieval Wall-mounted Sculptures
Wood, Oak, Giltwood