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.
Beautiful Portuguese Mirror Early 18th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Beautiful Portuguese Mirror Early 18th Century Frame in rosewood with gilded carvings. Signs of use for the age Dim.: 107 x 50 cm good condition
Wood
$2,863 / item
Portuguese Rosewood Wall Mirror 18th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
PORTUGUESE ROSEWOOD WALL MIRROR 18th century MIRROR D. MARY Portuguese18th Century, rosewood wood frame with gold carvings. Defects. Dim.: 75 x 36 cm.
Rosewood
Very Finely Carved Florentine Renaissance Revival Mirror
Located in Bronx, NY
A Florentine Renaissance revival gilded mirror, finely carved, illustrating a variety of botanical subjects.
Wood
$17,865Sale Price|40% Off
Early 19th Venetian Rectangular Carved and Gild Mirror
Located in IT
This beautiful rectangular mercury mirror in carved and gilded wood frame was made in the early 19th century in Venetian area of Italy. The richly carved frame is characterized by a ...
Giltwood
Silver Leaf Celestial Convex Mirror with Renaissance Sgraffito by Troy Stafford
Located in San Francisco, CA
A striking handcrafted convex mirror by artist Troy Stafford, featuring an eighteen-inch smoky mirror that evokes the feeling of a celestial portal. Surrounded by a sterling silver l...
Silver Leaf
$6,455 / item
Coppo Wall Mirror
Located in Milan, IT
Precious octagonal Venetian mirror, made in the most rigorous Murano tradition, finely hand-engraved with precious decorations on all side elements. It is assembled with numerous cry...
Crystal, Gold
$4,255 / item
Taja Wall Mirror
Located in Milan, IT
Original Venetian mirror made in the strictest Murano tradition with a crest and a rich frame carefully engraved by hand. All assembled with crystal elements handmade in the Murano f...
Glass
19th Century, Large Renaissance Style Oak Mirror Richly Carved
Located in Beaune, FR
Large and beautiful oak mirror carved with Renaissance-style scrolls that can be displayed vertically or horizontally. French work of the 19th century of good quality. Good condition.
Oak
French 19th Century Renaissance Style Finely Carved Giltwood Mirror
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking French 19th century Renaissance st. finely carved giltwood mirror. This remarkable mirror has the original mirror plate and is framed within an inner beaded border with ci...
Mirror, Giltwood
Sterling Silver Leaf Gilt Mirror with Sgraffito, Candle Shelf by Troy Stafford
Located in San Francisco, CA
A smoky, hand-gilded looking glass by artist Troy Stafford, crafted using traditional water-gilding techniques and sterling silver leaf. Both the mirror and frame are finished in ste...
Silver Leaf
Pair of English Gilt Bronze and Ebonised Wood Mirrors
Located in London, GB
Pair of English gilt bronze and ebonised wood mirrors English, c. 1860 Height 74cm, width 59cm, depth 7cm Magnificently crafted in around 1860 by English craftsmen, this pair of m...
Ormolu
Sterling Silver Leaf Convex Astrology Mirror, Custom Sgraffito by Troy Stafford
Located in San Francisco, CA
**Sterling Silver Leaf Convex Verre Églomisé Astrology Mirror with Custom Sgraffito by Troy Stafford** This extraordinary handmade oval convex looking glass by artist Troy Stafford ...
Silver Leaf
Sterling Silver Leaf Verre Eglomise Moon and Stars Mirror by Troy Stafford
Located in San Francisco, CA
A beautifully handcrafted arched verre églomisé mirror by artist Troy Stafford, featuring traditional sterling silver leaf water gilding, deep cerulean blue sgraffito, and celestial ...
Silver Leaf
Antique Dutch Brass and Ebonized Wood Mirror, circa 1860
Located in New Orleans, LA
Renaissance design.
Brass
18th C Style Italian Cathedral Form Giltwood Mirror - 1 of 2
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
18th C Style Italian Cathedral Form Giltwood Mirror - 1 of 2 Available.
Giltwood
$3,125 / item
Cin Cin Wall Mirror
Located in Milan, IT
A rectangular Venetian mirror with all the elements embellished with hand-engraved decorations as in the Murano tradition. The dark background color is obtained from special colors f...
Glass
Antique Brass Renaissance Style Bevel Edged Wall Mirror, English, C.1910
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Fabulous brass mirror with aged verdigris patina Can be hung both as a diamond or a square Original mirror plate. The plate is slightly distressed / misty The measurement given is...
Brass
Italian Venetian Murano Etched Floral Design Wall Mirrors
Located in Queens, NY
Italian Venetian Murano (modern) wall mirror with etched floral and scroll design border, applied gold-dusted glass leaves, and spindle trim.
Glass
Nine-Piece Sterling Silver Convex Mirror Wall Installation by Troy Stafford
Located in San Francisco, CA
**Nine-Piece Sterling Silver Leaf Convex Verre Églomisé Sculptural Wall Installation by Troy Stafford** This extraordinary nine-piece sculptural wall installation by artist Troy Sta...
Silver Leaf
Sterling Silver Leaf Celestial Rabbit Convex Mirror by Troy Stafford
Located in San Francisco, CA
**Sterling Silver Leaf Celestial Rabbit Convex Verre Églomisé Mirror by Troy Stafford** This extraordinary handmade convex mirror by artist Troy Stafford brings together traditional...
Silver Leaf
Mahogany Mirror with Carved Top
Located in Annville, PA
A Mahogany Mirror with Carved Top and Gold Leaf Details. This mirror has many elegant details throughout; including the original glass, the original finish,...
Mahogany
$5,580 / item
Tineo Wall Mirror
Located in Milan, IT
Precious rectangular Venetian mirror, made in the most rigorous Murano tradition, finely hand-engraved on all side elements. The central piece worked in mosaic transforms the mirror ...
Crystal, Gold
17th Century French Renaissance Silver and Gold Giltwood Mirror
Located in Houston, TX
A stunning mirror from the French Renaissance. This period was the cultural and artistic movement in France and is clearly depicted in the hand carved detailing of drapes, scrolling acanthus with religious angel...
Mirror, Giltwood
Period Italian Giltwood Renaissance Style Frame
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful Italian Renaissance style original giltwood frame. Late 19th century. Internal measurements cm 48.5 x 38. 5 It can be used either as small mirror or as frame. Every item o...
Wood
Gilded Mirror With Acanthus Leaf Decoration, 17th-century Italian Inspiration
Located in Paris, FR
Patinated gilded mirror in wood and stucco decorated with stylized acanthus leaf friezes inspired by 17th century Italian Renaissance. Gilding to the leaf. Made by Atelier RTCD...
Mirror, Stucco, Giltwood
$100Sale Price / item|88% Off
Oval Tin Metal-Clad Mirror
Located in New York, NY
Oval metal-clad mirror. Measures: H 26" x (66cm) x W 19" (48cm). Oval bevelled mirror in centre. Clear mirror. Aged looking metal-clad. Slightly aged look to tin metal-clad. Ba...
Metal, Tin
19th Century Renaissance Wall Mirror by Ballario-Asti, Carved and Turned Walnut
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Italian Renaissance fireplace mirror or console mirror in hand carved and turned walnut by Ballario Matteo Mobili, Asti. Original beveled...
Mirror, Walnut
Vintage Hand Craved Italian Gilt Wood Mirror
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A magnificent Italian Baroque style wall mirror, exquisitely hand-carved in solid wood and finished in a rich antiqued gilt.
Mirror, Wood
Elegant Vintage Italian Borghese Hand Carved Giltwood Mirror
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Lovely vertical narrow giltwood mirror by Borghese, Italy.
Mirror, Giltwood
Large 17th C Italian Walnut Ebonized Guilloché Mirror, Italy
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Large 17th C Italian ebonized walnut guilloche mirror with original glass Walnut, mirrored glass Measures: H 47.5, W 41.5 in.
Walnut
$1,250Sale Price|35% Off
French "Miroir a Parecloses", a Bride's Mirror
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
A French "Miroir a Parecloses", also called a bride's mirror. Extensive patinated brass repose work of remarkable quality and detail. 3rd quarter 19th century in Mannerist taste. 24 ...
Brass
Italian Venetian Style Gilt and Polychromed Floral Wall Mirror
Located in Queens, NY
Italian Venetian-style (19th/20th Century) gilt and polychromed rectangular wall mirror with a carved floral frame.
Chrome
12K Gold Leaf Florentine Swallow Verre Eglomise Mirror by Troy Stafford
Located in San Francisco, CA
**12 Karat Gold Leaf Florentine Swallow Verre Églomisé Mirror with Celestial Sgraffito by Troy Stafford** This exquisite handmade looking glass by artist Troy Stafford combines the ...
Gold Leaf
Sterling Silver Leaf Celestial Fish Verre Eglomise Mirror by Troy Stafford
Located in San Francisco, CA
**Sterling Silver Leaf Celestial Fish Verre Églomisé Mirror with Shelf by Troy Stafford** This enchanting handmade horizontal slow-arch mirror by artist Troy Stafford combines tradi...
Silver Leaf
Sterling Silver Leaf Verre Eglomise Mirror by Troy Stafford
Located in San Francisco, CA
A beautifully handcrafted sterling silver leaf verre églomisé mirror by artist Troy Stafford, celebrating the depth, luminosity, and timeless appeal of traditional gilding techniques...
Silver Leaf
Three Delft manganese tiles forming a portrait of a peacock, 18th century
Located in Honnelles, WHT
Three Delft manganese tiles forming a portrait of a peacock, 18th century
Earthenware
Antique Carved Wood Round Mirror, Renaissance Style, circa 1930
Located in Paris, FR
Antique wood round mirror Renaissance style, 1930 period. Antique carved wood. Adorned with columns, balusters, shells, macaroon. Antique glass mirr...
Mirror, Wood
Pair of Antique French Giltwood Wall Mirrors, Late 19th Century
Located in Sakskøbing, DK
A near-matching pair of antique French giltwood wall mirrors, dating to the late 19th century. The rectangular wooden frames have warm aged gold finishes with wide moulded profiles ...
Mirror, Wood, Giltwood
Monumental Scale Italian Large Convex Mirror
Located in London, by appointment only
A colossal continental giltwood large convex mirror, the broad frame richly carved with ripe fruits and foliage, the gilding restored and refreshed. Italy, 19th century Measure: 60 inches diameter.
Giltwood
Renaissance Style Mirror, Marble Dust Patina, 20th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Renaissance style mirror in marble dust. The rectangular mirror with semicircular curvature in its upper part has been highlighted following these same lines with a frame finished i...
Other
Antique Rare Italian Venetian Etched Floral Glass Wall Mirror, Set of 2
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Rare Italian Venetian Etched floral glass wall mirror - set of 2 Beautiful Rare Venetian etched glass mirrors with hand blown glass dec...
Glass, Blown Glass
Pair of French Renaissance S-tyle Ormolu Wall Mirrors with Candelabra
Located in London, GB
Pair of French Renaissance style ormolu wall mirrors with candelabra French, 19th Century Height 75cm, width 41cm, depth 16cm Crafted from ormolu, or gilt bronze, in the charming an...
Ormolu
$1,374 / item
Portuguese Rosewood Wall Mirror 18th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
PORTUGUESE ROSEWOOD WALL MIRROR 18th century Portuguese from the 18th century, rosewood veneer, carved and gilded wood, architectural cornice, winding and flower decoration. Defect...
Rosewood