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
Very Large Pair of Polished Steel Andirons in the Gothic Manner
Located in London, GB
A very large pair of polished steel firedogs in the Gothic manner. The arched feet with scrollwork below, the shafts with dragon's heads and figure, surmounted by mulling top of crow...
Category
Late 20th Century English Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Steel
17th Century German
Rural Scene
Fireback / Backsplash
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
17th Century German Gothic fireback with a rural scene. The fireback is made of cast iron and has a black / pewter patina. The condition is good, no cracks.
Category
17th Century German Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
17th Century Gothic Cup Dogs, Andirons
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
French 17th century Gothic cup dogs. The condition is good.
Category
17th Century French Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
$565 / set
19th Century English Gothic Style Stone Fireplace
Located in London, GB
A mid-late 19th century English Gothic style stone fireplace. The moulded jambs surmounted by arched frieze with spandrel panels. Two-tier moulded shelf. Some markings to the stone c...
Category
19th Century English Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Stone
15th Century English Red Sandstone Font
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
Potentially dating from as early as the 15th century medieval era, this carved red English sandstone font is between 500 and 600 years old. Though heavily weathered by the elements, ...
Category
15th Century and Earlier English Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Sandstone
Antique French Gothic Fireplace Grate or Fire Basket, 17th - 18th Century
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
Late 17th or early 18th century French Gothic period fire grate. Hand forged of wrought iron. The condition of the basket is good.
Category
Early 18th Century French Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
Architectural Stone Fireplace
Located in London, GB
An architectural French stone fireplace. The panelled frieze with shaped, panelled jambs below. A rustic stone with nice, aged patina. French, late 18th-early 19th century.
Shelf W...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Stone
16th Century oak carved Gothic Panel, France
Located in Meulebeke, BE
16th century / Belgium / Letter Panel / Oak / Gothic
A finely carved Gothic oak panel from 16th-century France. This architectural fragment features graceful vertical fluting framed...
Category
16th Century Belgian Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Oak
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
A Large English Fireplace Mantel in Grey York Stone
Located in London, GB
A large English fireplace in grey York stone. The frieze and jambs with moulded ingrounds surmounted by plain shelf, 19th century.
Measure:
Shelf Width: 1940 mm 76 3/8 in
Over...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Stone
Pair 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 appealin...
Category
20th Century Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Oak
$3,900 / item
17th Century German
Lot and Daughters
Stove Plate / Backsplash, Gothic Period
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
Gothic Period German stove plate depicting Lot and his daughters.
The stove plate is made of cast iron and has a natural brown patina. Upon request, it ...
Category
17th Century German Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
English Fireplace in York Stone
Located in London, GB
An English fireplace in York stone. The plain jambs surmounted by brackets, with moulded shelf above. English, circa 1900.
Measures:
Shelf width: 1445 mm...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Stone
16th Century German Gothic Fireback / Backsplash
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
16th century German Gothic fireback from the early days of casting firebacks. The fireback is made of cast iron and has a natural brown patina. Upo...
Category
16th Century German Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
16th - 17th Century German Gothic
Joab and Abner
Fireback / Backsplash
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
16th - 17th century Gothic style German fireback depicting Joab and Abner.
After King Saul’s death, his army commander Abner supported Saul’s son Ish-bosheth as king over Israel, w...
Category
Early 17th Century German Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
20th Century German
John the Baptist
Fireback in Gothic Style
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
Large 20th century German Gothic Style fireback with a religious theme. The fireback is made of cast iron and has a brown patina. Upon request it can be made black / pewter at no ext...
Category
20th Century German Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
20th Century German
Religious Theme
Fireback / Backsplash
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
20th century Gothic style German fireback depicting a religious theme. The fireback is made of cast iron and has a natural brown patina. Upon request it can be made black / pewter. T...
Category
20th Century German Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
19th Century Cast Iron Medieval Style Fireback with Horizontal Lapping and Rings
Located in Dallas, TX
Cast in the 1800s in the Medieval style, this robust French iron fireback features thick horizontal, lapped plates that comprise the fireplace accessory. The fireback is roughly rect...
Category
19th Century French Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Metal, Iron
17th Century French Gothic Period Andirons or Firedogs
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
17th century Gothic Period andirons made of wrought iron. The andirons are in a good condition and are fit for use in the fireplace.
Category
17th Century French Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
Pair of important wrought iron landiers. French work in the Gothic Style. C 1900
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This tall pair of gothic style wrought iron andirons are also called landiers because of the shape of the top parts that where used to have water or soup boiling on receipt near the ...
Category
1880s French Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
Gothic Style
Religious Theme
Fireback / Backsplash
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
20th century Gothic Style German fireback with a religious theme.
The fireback has a natural brown patina. Upon request it can be made black / pewter color with stove polish at no ...
Category
20th Century German Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
16th Century German Gothic Fireback / Backsplash
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
16th century German gothic fireback with a religious theme. The fireback is made of cast iron and has a black patina.
This product weighs more tha...
Category
16th Century German Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
16th-17th Century German Gothic
Religious Theme
Fireback / Backsplash
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
16th-17th century German Gothic fireback with a religious theme. The fireback is made of cast iron and has a natural brown patina. Upon request it can be made black / pewter. The con...
Category
Early 17th Century German Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
Vintage Gothic Style Rustic Wood Window or Wall Décor w/Amber Dimpled Glass
Located in Topeka, KS
Phenomenal Early to Mid-20th Century Gothic style rustic wood window or wall décor with amber dimpled glass. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that this is vintage and not new so ...
Category
20th Century American Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Glass, Wood, Paint
16th Century German Gothic Fireback / Backsplash
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
16th century German Gothic fireback with a religious theme. The fireback is made of cast iron and has a black / pewter patina. The condition is good, n...
Category
16th Century German Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
17th Century Antique Fireback / Backsplash Dated 1617
Located in Haarlem, Noord-Holland
Amazing French cast Iron fireback or backsplash.
Showing IHS (Jezus the Savior of Humanity) or In Hoc Signo (In this sign will you win)) inside a beautiful wreath suspended by two angels, this all between two tall rounded pillars.
This fireback is dated 1617.
The fireback has a crack on the left side, see picture.
Sold by Schermerhorn Antique Fireplaces
Our vast collection of antique fireplaces and mantels...
Category
Early 17th Century French Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
Rare 14th Century Limestone Pinnacle from Beverley Minster
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A rare weathered late 13th / early 14th century limestone pinnacle reclaimed from the East End of the south retro choir roof of Beverley Minster, Yorkshire, one of two we have for sa...
Category
15th Century and Earlier English Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Stone, Limestone
French Gothic Style Fire Grate, Fireplace Grate
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
20th century French Gothic Style fireplace basket - fire basket made of wrought iron and cast iron. The basket is in good condition and is fully functional. The total width of the fr...
Category
20th Century French Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron, Wrought Iron
Early 18th Century Gothic Style Firedogs or Andirons
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
Early 18th Century French Gothic style andirons. Made of wrought iron. The andirons are in a good condition and are fully functional. With spit hooks to grill food and a cup to keep ...
Category
Early 18th Century French Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
20th Century French Gothic Style Andirons or Firedogs
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
20th century French Gothic Style andirons made of wrought iron. The condition is good.
Category
20th Century French Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
French 17th Century Gothic Andirons or Firedogs
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
17th century French gothic andirons - fire dogs made of wrought iron. They have spit hooks to grill meat or poultry.
Category
17th Century French Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
17th Century Gothic Cup Dogs, Andirons
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
French 17th century Gothic firedogs.
With spit hooks to grill food and a cup to keep drinks or soup warm.
Category
17th Century French Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
$565 / set
French Gothic Fireplace Grate or Fire Basket, 17th Century
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
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
17th-18th Century French Gothic Andirons or Firedogs
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
17th-18th century French andirons made of wrought iron. The style of the andirons is gothic. The andirons have spit hooks to grill food. They have a natural brown patina. Upon reques...
Category
Early 18th Century French Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
Large French Gothic Style Andirons or Firedogs
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
Large early 19th century French Gothic Style Period andirons. The andirons are made of wrought iron. The condition is good.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
20th Century
Religious Theme
Fireback / Backsplash, Gothic Style
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
20th century Gothic style fireback depicting a religious theme. The fireback is made of cast iron and has a natural brown patina. Upon request it can be made black / pewter. The fire...
Category
20th Century French Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
Large 18th Century French
Marriage
Andirons, Firedogs
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
Beautiful 18th century French andirons made of wrought iron. The style of the andirons is Gothic Period. They have a natural brown patina. The andirons have spit hooks to grill food....
Category
18th Century French Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
18th Century Horseshoe Andirons, Firedogs
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
18th Century Horseshoe Andirons, Firedogs, made of wrought iron. The style of the andirons is Gothic. The condition is good.
Category
18th Century French Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
French Gothic Period
Pillars and Pediment
Fireback / Backspash, 16th Century
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
16th century French Gothic Period fireback with two pillars of Hercules and a pediment.
The pillar refers to the club of Hercules, his favorite weapon. It symbolizes power. Since an...
Category
16th Century French Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
Large 17th Century French Gothic Andirons or Firedogs
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
Large 17th century French Gothic andirons made of wrought iron. The tops of the andirons consist of bull heads, which is characteri...
Category
17th Century French Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
Antique Gothic Saint Peter Fireback / Backsplash, 16th - 17th Century
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
Saint Peter with the key to the gate of heaven. German Gothic period fireback. Made of cast iron. It has a black / pewter patina. The condition is good, no...
Category
17th Century German Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
17th Century Dutch Fireplace Grate or Fireplace Basket
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
17th century Dutch fire grate made of wrought iron. Gothic period. The grate is in a good condition.
Category
17th Century Dutch Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
French Gothic Style Firedogs or Andirons
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
French 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.
T...
Category
20th Century French Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
$469 / set
French Gothic
Pillars and Pediment
Fireback, 17th Century
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
17th century French Gothic fireback with two pillars of Hercules and a pediment.
The pillar refers to the club of Hercules, his favorite weapon. It symbolizes power. Since antiquity...
Category
17th Century French Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
Antique French Gothic Fireplace Grate or Fire Basket, 17th - 18th Century
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
17th - 18th century French Gothic fire grate with period andirons and a recently forged grate. Made of wrought iron. The condition is good.
The total width at the front of the grat...
Category
Early 18th Century French Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
Beautiful 17th-18th Century French Gothic Andirons or Firedogs
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
17th-18th century French andirons made of wrought iron. The style of the andirons is Gothic. The andirons have spit hooks to grill food. They have a natural brown patina. Upon reques...
Category
Early 18th Century French Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
Dutch Gothic Fireplace Grate or Fire Basket, 17th Century
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
17th century Dutch Gothic fire grate. Made of beautifully forged wrought iron. The fire grate has a natural brown patina. Upon request it can be made...
Category
17th Century Dutch Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
17th-18th Century French Gothic Andirons or Firedogs
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
17th-18th century French Gothic fire dogs made of wrought iron. The andirons have spit hooks. The condition is good.
Category
18th Century French Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
French 17th Century Gothic Period Andirons or Firedogs
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
17th century French gothic andirons - fire dogs made of wrought iron. They have spit hooks to grill meat or poultry.
Category
17th Century French Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
Pair Of 15th Century French Gothic Andirons
Located in London, GB
A pair of Gothic cast iron andirons.
France, 15th century.
Large dimensions, worn detailed faces and extremely heavy.
H 67 W 31 D 65 cm
Category
15th Century and Earlier Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
$4,782 / set
Large French 17th Century Gothic Andirons or Landiers with Wolf Head
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
17th century French gothic 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
17th Century French Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
Antique French Gothic Andirons, 17th Century
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
17th century French andirons made of wrought iron. The style of the andirons is gothic. 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
French Pair of 18th Century Wrought Iron Andirons
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
An elegant pair of French hand-wrought iron fireplace andirons, made in the 18th century if not earlier. They are Gothic in style with a reddish brown patina from oxidation of the ir...
Category
18th Century French Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
Large Pair Hand Wrought Gothic Arts and Crafts Andirons
By Samuel Yellin
Located in New York, NY
Large Pair Hand Wrought Gothic Arts and Crafts Andirons - Iron, and steel, hand chased decoration, swinging pot holder arms. These impressive and irons are in good original condition...
Category
Early 20th Century American Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
$1,760 Sale Price / set
20% Off
18th-19th Century French Gothic Style Andirons or Firedogs
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
18th-19th century French Gothic style andirons made of wrought iron. The andirons have a natural brown patina. Upon request they can be made black / pewter. The condition is good.
...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
French Gothic Andirons or Firedogs, 17th Century
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
17th century French andirons made of wrought iron. The style of the andirons is Gothic. 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
French Gothic Andirons or Firedogs, 17th Century
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
17th century French andirons made of wrought iron. The style of the andirons is Gothic. 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
Large French 17th Century Gothic Andirons or Landiers
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
17th century French gothic 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
17th Century French Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
French Gothic Andirons or Firedogs, 17th Century
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
Hand forged 17th century French andirons made of wrought iron. The style of the andirons is Gothic. The tops of the andirons have the shape of a bulls head. The andirons have spit ho...
Category
17th Century French Antique Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
$1,160 / set
German Gothic Style
Religious Theme
Fireback / Backsplash
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
19th - 20th Century Gothic style German fireback depicting a religious theme. The fireback is made of cast iron and has a black / pewter patina. The fireback is in a good condition a...
Category
Early 20th Century German Medieval Building and Garden Elements
Materials
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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