Renaissance Decorative Art
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.
Late 17th Century Dutch Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Canvas
1850s English Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
1870s English Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
1850s English Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
1850s English Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Stucco
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Terracotta
1850s English Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Marble
1890s English Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
1830s English Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
1850s English Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
16th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Stone
1890s English Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
1890s English Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
1850s English Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
1860s English Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
1860s English Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
Early 1900s English Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
1990s Italian Renaissance Decorative Art
Travertine
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Marble
1850s English Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
18th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Gold Leaf
1720s Dutch Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
1720s Dutch Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
1720s Dutch Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
1720s Dutch Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
1720s Dutch Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
1720s Dutch Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
1720s Dutch Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
1720s Dutch Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
1720s Dutch Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
1720s Dutch Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
1720s Dutch Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
1720s Dutch Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
1720s Dutch Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
1720s Dutch Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
1720s Dutch Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
1720s Dutch Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
1720s Dutch Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
1870s English Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
1850s English Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
1850s English Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
1980s British Vintage Renaissance Decorative Art
Stone
17th Century Belgian Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Canvas, Wood
1850s English Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
1850s English Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
1840s English Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
19th Century German Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Porcelain, Giltwood
1840s English Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper, Pine
1850s English Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
1840s English Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Slate
1870s German Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper
1860s French Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Paper, Wood
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Enamel
Mid-20th Century Italian Renaissance Decorative Art
Wood, Paint
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Art
Ceramic