Medieval Decorative Art
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 1900s English Antique Medieval Decorative Art
Paper
Mid-19th Century English Antique Medieval Decorative Art
Wood, Pine
Mid-19th Century English Antique Medieval Decorative Art
Wood, Pine
Mid-19th Century English Antique Medieval Decorative Art
Wood, Pine
Early 20th Century French Medieval Decorative Art
Metal, Tin
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Medieval Decorative Art
Wood
20th Century Medieval Decorative Art
Leather, Glass, Wood
1860s English Antique Medieval Decorative Art
Paper
15th Century and Earlier Spanish Antique Medieval Decorative Art
Wood, Parchment Paper
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Medieval Decorative Art
Wood
1920s Vintage Medieval Decorative Art
Copper
15th Century and Earlier French Antique Medieval Decorative Art
Parchment Paper
16th Century French Antique Medieval Decorative Art
Oak
19th Century Antique Medieval Decorative Art
Bronze
19th Century French Antique Medieval Decorative Art
Wood
Late 19th Century German Antique Medieval Decorative Art
Pewter
20th Century Italian Medieval Decorative Art
Wood, Paper
1910s Austrian Vintage Medieval Decorative Art
Porcelain
Late 19th Century French Antique Medieval Decorative Art
Wood
Early 20th Century French Medieval Decorative Art
Ceramic, Earthenware
20th Century Czech Medieval Decorative Art
Leather, Canvas, Wood, Paint
19th Century Italian Antique Medieval Decorative Art
Plaster
20th Century Medieval Decorative Art
Wood, Paint
1930s Vintage Medieval Decorative Art
Wood, Teak, Reclaimed Wood
19th Century Antique Medieval Decorative Art
Burlap, Glass, Plaster, Wood
Early 20th Century English Medieval Decorative Art
Canvas, Paint, Wood
2010s French Medieval Decorative Art
Paper
1890s English Antique Medieval Decorative Art
Paper, Pine
19th Century Italian Antique Medieval Decorative Art
Paper
Early 20th Century Indian Medieval Decorative Art
Paint
Early 20th Century Medieval Decorative Art
Paper
1920s Belgian Vintage Medieval Decorative Art
Ceramic
19th Century French Antique Medieval Decorative Art
Pine
16th Century French Antique Medieval Decorative Art
Bronze
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Medieval Decorative Art
Wood
20th Century Italian Medieval Decorative Art
Marble
Late 19th Century Antique Medieval Decorative Art
Paper
15th Century and Earlier French Antique Medieval Decorative Art
Parchment Paper
15th Century and Earlier French Antique Medieval Decorative Art
Parchment Paper
15th Century and Earlier French Antique Medieval Decorative Art
Parchment Paper
16th Century Spanish Antique Medieval Decorative Art
Wood
15th Century and Earlier French Antique Medieval Decorative Art
Parchment Paper
15th Century and Earlier French Antique Medieval Decorative Art
Parchment Paper
15th Century and Earlier French Antique Medieval Decorative Art
Parchment Paper
15th Century and Earlier French Antique Medieval Decorative Art
Parchment Paper