Medieval Building and Garden Elements
MEDIEVAL STYLE
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.
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Style: Medieval
Carved Oak Gothic Wall Bracket Shelf
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Carved Oak Gothic Wall Bracket Shelf
This is a Magnificent and quite Large piece of 19th Century carved oak, it is a wall bracket or shelf
The bracket is a heavy piece and comes w...
Category
19th Century Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Oak
Antique German Heraldic Stained Glass Window Hanging
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A 19th century antique German heraldic stained glass window hanging.
Since the early years of the Holy Roman Empire, the black eagle has ...
Category
Mid-19th Century German Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Lead
Sandstone Sculpture of Cloaked Figure
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A reclaimed English carved red sandstone sculpture of a cloaked male figure.
In medieval style, this statue has a characterful well weathered finish paired with its intriguing subje...
Category
Early 20th Century English Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Stone, Sandstone
Antique Gothic Style Hob Grate
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A Victorian era Gothic style hob grate dating from circa 1830 and unusually decorated with castellations and quatrefoils. Finished in black graphite polish, this antique cast iron hob grate...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Metal, Iron
Gothic Hand Carved Stone Surround Architectural Element Wall Mount Fountain Idea
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Gothic Hand Carved Stone Surround Architectural Element Wall Mount Fountain Idea . A Beautiful and Rare Gothic 15th Century Carved Stone Window Sur...
Category
15th Century and Earlier French Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Stone
$11,200 Sale Price
20% Off
19th Century Cast Iron Hob Grate in the Gothic Style
Located in London, GB
A 19th century cast iron hob grate in the Gothic style. The burning area with rosette pattern and cast spandrels below. Decorative wreath motif to back. English, 19th century.
Width...
Category
19th Century English Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
Antique 13th-14th Century Medieval Carved Stone Gargoyle
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An antique medieval carved stone gargoyle from the private collection of a country house in Oxfordshire, originally purchased from Crowther of Syon Lodge in 1985.
Dating to the 13...
Category
15th Century and Earlier English Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Stone
1890 Arched Wooden Gothic Church Window Frame
Located in Surrey, BC
Wooden arched church window retaining old white paint with great balanced details.
Salvaged from an old church in Montreal.
Category
Late 19th Century Canadian Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Softwood
19th Century French Iron
Enamel Planter
Located in Tarzana, CA
19th Century French Iron & Enamel Planter having gargoyle figures as legs with a total of 20 enameled tiles depicting flowers, Dimensions Height: 13.5" Width: 30" Depth: 14 3/4"
Category
19th Century French Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
Small Antique Stained Glass Window of a Nobleman
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A small and well-captured antique stained glass window panel depicting a nobleman with blonde hair and bushy beard, dressed in red and wearing a cap. Though this piece dates from the...
Category
Early 20th Century English Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Lead
Heavy Bronze Bell, Tower Bell This Is a Very Heavy Piece It Is on an Oak Yoke
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Heavy Bronze Bell, Tower Bell
This is a very heavy piece it is on an Oak Yoke with iron fixings including a the bracket which holds the rope
For the purpose of the pictures and ...
Category
1840s Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Bronze
Set of 9 Reclaimed Gothic Style 6-Inch Geometric Tiles
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A set of nine 6-inch reclaimed tiles in the gothic style, decorated with interlinking circles, foliate roundels and stylised fish. Possibly in the style of Christopher Dresser, circa...
Category
1870s English Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Clay
Antique Gothic Wrought Iron Spiral Twist 56" Fireplace Mantel Fender Surround
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Gothic Wrought Iron Spiral Twist 56" Fireplace Mantel Fender Surround. Item features twisted finials, vintage scrolling central design,...
Category
Early 1900s Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
A Victorian Gothic Style Exterior Door
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An Arched Gothic style door, salvaged from a Church in Shrewsbury.
Total Height 252 cm (99.21 in)
Height to shoulder: 153 cm (60.23 in)
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wood, Pine
Antique 19th century Jacobean Carved Oak Fireplace
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An antique 19th century Jacobean style carved oak fireplace. Dating to circa 1850, this English fireplace is elaborately carved and ...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wood, Oak
Antique Terracotta Architectural Shield Plaque
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An early 19th century antique terracotta architectural plaque in the shape of a shield. This is one of seven similar shield-shaped terracotta plaques we are selling, usable alone or...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Terracotta
Medieval Style Stained Glass Window of St Michael
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A reclaimed religious stained glass window of St Michael weighing a soul, after a medieval era stained glass window in Eaton Bishop Church, Herefordshire. This English church origina...
Category
20th Century English Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Lead
17th Century Style Pair of Gothic Serpent Andirons
Located in London, GB
A large pair of iron 17th century style Gothic serpent andirons with rope twist,
English made circa 1920-1930
Measure: Overall height 36" 91 cm
...
Category
17th Century English Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
French Gothic Style Firedogs or Andirons
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
Gothic Style fire dogs made of cast iron. With spit hooks to grill food and a cup to keep drinks or soup warm. This type of andirons are also called cupdogs. 20th century.
The condi...
Category
20th Century French Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
Hand Carved Stone Vide poche Basin Jardinière Bowl Planter Vessel Sink Antiques
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Hand Carved Stone Vide poche Basin Jardinière bowl planter vessel sink Antiques . 17th C. Possibly earlier Gothic Container . A Water Trough Benitier in a ...
Category
17th Century French Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Stone, Limestone
$2,960 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique Gothic Arts
Crafts Large Wrought Iron Fireplace Andirons w/ Bar - Set
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Gothic Arts & Crafts Large Wrought Iron Fireplace Andirons w/ Bar - a Set. Item features a large impressive size, scrolling iron frames, removable scrolling crossbar, very ni...
Category
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
Large 19th Century Inglenook Fire Grate on Andirons
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Large 19th Century Inglenook Fire Grate on Andirons
This is heavy hand Forged Iron Log Grate is supported on a Pair of Iron Andirons
The Grate is in very good but used condition and it is very heavy and would look superb in an open or Inglenook fire place
The Andirons and Grate...
Category
19th Century Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
19th Century English Finials Carved as Heraldic Lions
Located in Baambrugge, NL
The beast are portrayed sejant each with the forepaws supporting a shield. They are sitting on octagonal bases.
The armorials might have been painted at some point, but no traces ...
Category
19th Century Great Britain (UK) Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Sandstone
16th Century Belgian Gothic Oak Panel
Located in Meulebeke, BE
16th century / Belgium / Letter Panel / Oak / Gothic
A finely carved Gothic oak panel from 16th-century Belgium. This architectural fragment features graceful vertical fluting frame...
Category
16th Century Belgian Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Oak
An Early Victorian Carved Stone Fireplace In The Gothic Style
Located in London, GB
An early Victorian carved stone fireplace in the Gothic style. The arched frieze with carved spandrels featuring fruit and foliage. Heavily moul...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Stone
Marble capital carved with acanthus leaves - Apulia, 13th century
Located in Bruxelles, BE
Marble capital carved with acanthus leaves
Southern Italy, Apulia
13th century
28,5 x 53,5 x 12,5 cm
This wedge-shape capital decorated with acanthus leaves and roses is character...
Category
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Marble
Large English Stone Fireplace in the Gothic Manner
Located in London, GB
A large English stone fireplace in the Gothic manner. The arched frieze with carved spandrels, the jambs with moulding to inside edge. Finished with a light grey, rustic paint effect...
Category
19th Century English Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Stone
Beverley Minster Rare 14th Century Limestone Column Capital
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A rare late 13th / early 14th century limestone column capital reclaimed from Beverley Minster, Yorkshire. Dating to circa 1300, this limestone capital originates from the medieval p...
Category
15th Century and Earlier English Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Stone, Limestone
English Medieval Style Leaded Glass Window
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An antique English medieval style leaded glass window circa 1850 in Tudor revival style depicting an armoured knight holding a banner beside a priest ...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Lead
Medieval Stained Glass Window Hanging Panel of a Saint
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A really interesting antique stained glass window hanging panel of a saintly figure with halo dating from the medieval period, circa 1400, set within a further stained glass diamond....
Category
15th Century and Earlier English Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Lead
Pair of 19th Century French Wrought Iron “Landiers” Andirons with Fleur de Lys
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a fireplace with this elegant pair of antique wrought iron andirons with matching cross bar. Forged in France, circa 1820, and standing on three feet, the andirons called “L...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
English Fireplace in the Gothic Style
Located in London, GB
An English stone fireplace in the Gothic manner. The moulded jambs surmounted by arched frieze, circa 1900.
Measure:
Shelf Width: 1395 mm 54 7/8 in
Overall Height: 1125 mm ...
Category
19th Century English Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Stone
Blacksmith Made Iron Game Hanger, Kitchen Utensil or Pot Hanger
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Blacksmith made iron game hanger, kitchen utensil or pot hanger.
A great piece with lots of Character, it is a large rectangular piece it is set wi...
Category
1920s Vintage Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
Gothic Pugin Vintage Faux Marble Painted Large Pedestal Plinth for Marble Bust
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely Gothic style vintage Faux marble painted pine pedestal pillar column for displaying antiques.
...
Category
20th Century English Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Pine
Pair of Neo Gothic Steel Firedogs
Located in London, GB
Pair of 19th century (dated 1861) neo-Gothic polished cast iron firedogs, with heraldic masks, horseshoe shaped bases, and orb finial tops. Scrolled backbars.
Measures: Height: 690 ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
18th Century Medieval Style Carved Oak Door or Panel
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An antique 18th century medieval style carved oak door or panel; one of two similar for sale at UK Heritage.
Previously used as a decorative panel and transformed into a door, this ...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wood, Fruitwood, Oak, Pine
French 18th Century Forged Iron Andirons
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A slender pair of French 18th century hand-wrought fireplace andirons. They are Gothic-Mediterranean in style emboldened by a reddish brown patina from oxidation of the iron and cent...
Category
18th Century French Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron, Wrought Iron
$895 / set
17th - 18th Century Gothic Large French Andirons
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
17th - 18th century French andirons - fire dogs made of wrought iron. These French andirons are called 'landiers' in France. This dates from the times the andirons were the main cook...
Category
Early 18th Century French Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
$1,160 / set
French Gothic Andirons or Firedogs, Gothic Period, 17th Century
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
17th century French andirons made of wrought iron. The style of the andirons is Gothic Period. The andirons have spit hooks to grill food. They are in a good condition.
Category
17th Century French Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
18th Century York Stone Cistern or Trough
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An unusual and fascinating 18th century York stone cistern or trough, finished with natural weathering that can only be achieved by exposure to the eleme...
Category
18th Century English Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Stone
19th Century Armorial Stained Glass Panel From Locko Park Derbyshire
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A 19th Century Armorial Stained Glass Panel From Locko Park Derbyshire.
This stained glass window panel depicts the impaled arms of the Drury-Lowe and Needham families.
This intri...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Metal, Lead
Large Stripped Pine Altar Niche from Northern France, 20th Century
Located in Dallas, TX
More information coming soon…
Hand-carved in northern France during the 1900s, this large pine altar niche has a nook large enough to fit a 6 3/4 foot tall work of art. The wood ha...
Category
20th Century French Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wood, Pine
German Armorial Oval Stained Glass Window Hanging
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A 19th century antique German armorial oval stained glass window hanging.
This small oval stained glass panel depicts a family crest, the coat of arms consisting of a black shield m...
Category
Mid-19th Century German Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Lead
Pairs of Antique Carved Oak Column Pedestals
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A pair of turned and carved oak column pedestals, salvaged from a church in Portsmouth.
Styled foliage and floral designs to the centre, these large scale, rich colour and appealing...
Category
Early 20th Century English Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Oak, Wood
Antique Gothic Style Arched Panelled Oak Door
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
This antique gothic style arched and panelled oak door dates back to circa 1900, sourced from a grade II listed building in Bristol’s old city.
With a beautiful warm oak patina, thi...
Category
Early 20th Century English Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Oak
A Carved English Stone Fireplace
Located in London, GB
A carved stone English fireplace in the Gothic manner. The jambs with panels carved with scrolled foliage throughout surmounted by end blocking with carved cartouche and shell. The f...
Category
19th Century English Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Stone
Set of 9 Antique English Gothic Style Encaustic Tiles
By Minton
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A striking set of nine ecclesiastical antique English encaustic tiles. Stamped with maker’s marks to the reverse, this collection includes eight buff and red terracotta tiles in the ...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Clay
19th Century Medieval Style Terracotta Shield
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An early 19th century weathered terracotta architectural plaque in the shape of a shield. This is one of seven similar shield-shaped terracotta plaques we are selling, usable alone ...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Terracotta
Antique Medieval Style Weathered Terracotta Shield
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An early 19th century weathered terracotta architectural plaque in the shape of a shield. This is one of seven similar shield-shaped terracotta plaques we are selling, usable alone ...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Terracotta
French
Gothic Arms
Fireback / Backsplash, 20th Century
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
20th century French 'Gothic Arms' fireback or backsplash with Gothic Style design. Constructed from cast iron, it showcases a brown patina, with the option to be refinished to black ...
Category
20th Century French Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
Antique Wrought Iron Gate Pediment
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An antique decorative mounted wrought iron pediment.
The ironwork is taken from the choir screen removed from Salisbury Cathedral in 1959, displaying intricately worked and decorated wrought iron decorated with parcel gilt.
The cathedral is known for its gothic architecture, with this piece designed in 1869 by Sir George Gilbert Scott...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
16th Century Belgian Gothic Oak Panel
Located in Meulebeke, BE
16th century / Belgium / Letter Panel / Oak / Gothic
A finely carved Gothic oak panel from 16th-century Belgium. This architectural fragment features graceful vertical fluting frame...
Category
16th Century Belgian Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Oak
Antique Weathered Terracotta Shield Plaque
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An early 19th century weathered terracotta architectural plaque in the shape of a shield. This is one of seven similar shield-shaped terracotta plaques we are selling, usable alone ...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Terracotta
19th Century Medieval Style Terracotta Shield Plaque
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An early 19th century weathered terracotta architectural plaque in the shape of a shield. This is one of seven similar shield-shaped terracotta plaques we are selling, usable alone ...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Terracotta
Gothic Style Free Standing Tall Fire Basket, Grate for Inglenook
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Gothic style free standing tall fire basket, Grate for Inglenook
This is a Quirky and decorative piece, it is blacksmith made with 2 large Ornamental Dragon’s Heads at each side,...
Category
Early 20th Century Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
Large Set of Black Stone Tiles
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
This set is composed of around 2500 of Soignies black stone square tiles. Each side be 35 cm. Total surface about 280m².
Category
19th Century Belgian Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Stone
$124,931
Unique 16th Century Antique Fireback, Biblical Wine Feast
Located in Haarlem, Noord-Holland
Beautifully decorated antique fireback or "ofenplatte".
This used to be one of the sides of an antique stove made from several decorated firebacks.
B...
Category
16th Century European Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
Large Hexagonale Base of Pilaster in Burgundy Stone, Burgundy, 15th Century
Located in Bruxelles, BE
Large base of molded hexagonal pilaster in burgundy stone carved with vines, grapes and rosettes in high relief.
Burgundy, 15th century
28 x 63 x 30 cm
Provenance : collection De...
Category
15th Century and Earlier French Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Stone
$6,187 Sale Price
20% Off
19th Century English Carved Limestone Fireplace in the Gothic Taste
Located in London, GB
A 19th century English carved limestone fireplace, with the initials 'AB' and the date 1855 carved to the centre of the frieze, jambs carved with bellflowers and ears of wheat, surmo...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Limestone
Beautiful French Gothic Fireplace Grate or Fire Basket, 17th Century
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
Beautiful 17th century French Gothic fire grate with period andirons and a recently forged grate. Made of wrought iron. The condition is good.
Category
17th Century French Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
Medieval building and garden elements for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Medieval building and garden elements for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage building and garden elements created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include building and garden elements, decorative objects, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, iron and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Medieval building and garden elements made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and United Kingdom pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original building and garden elements, popular names associated with this style include Arthur Umanoff, Maitland Smith, P.&F. Corbin Company, and Yale
Towne Manufacturing Co.. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for building and garden elements differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $180 and tops out at $275,000 while the average work can sell for $1,522.
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