Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

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.

Style: Medieval

18th Century Small French Oak Coffer, Strong Box

Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight

18th Century Small French Oak Coffer, Strong Box

Category

18th Century Antique Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Oak

18th Century Small French Oak Coffer, Strong Box

$2,310

18th Century Italian Carved Cassone Trunk with Inside Carved Raised Panel

Located in Miami, FL

Antique carved walnut cassone coffer on paw feet from Spain, circa 1880. Very versatile as well: Could be used as a seating bench, or an entry piece o...

Category

Late 18th Century Italian Antique Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Walnut

18th Century Italian Carved Cassone Trunk with Inside Carved Raised Panel

$4,575

A large and exceptional 15th c. Gothic leather and iron bound travelling chest

Located in PARIS, FR

Large leather and iron bound travel chest, very rare in its dimensions Late 15th century, Northern France Dimensions: h.103 cm, w. 178 cm, d. 77cm ( (H. 40.55 in, w. 70.08 in. d. 30.31 in) Our rectangular-shaped chest opens with a rounded lid. It is entirely covered in leather veneered on a wooden core, and decorated with wrought and crafted iron frames and hinges. It is garnished on all sides with iron hinges cut at the ends of Gothic trefoils. On the facade two lock plates with cut-out cloverleaf borders fitted with a hasp (one missing) attached to the cover. The iron bands serving as reinforcements on all sides as well as the central bands are decorated with plant and floral friezes and geometric patterns. These strips are attached to the wood using daisy-headed nails, typical of the French Renaissance. Given its size and loaded weight, our trunk has four carrying handles: two wrought iron side handles, but also two front handles. The interior has a stretched fabric dating from at least the 17th century, we find on the interior sides of the cover the original raspberry-colored vellum. This is a rare model in leather and iron of very large dimensions. Expensive materials, which were only used on small Gothic boxes (20 cm to 50 cm in length) like those in the public collections of many museums. Large chests exceeding 1 meter in length for the sake of economy and simplicity were generally made of wood sometimes covered with iron cladding. We found a large chest in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of New York, but still smaller than ours (inv. 47.144, dim. H: 22 1/2" W: 50 1/2" D: 21"). There are also two similar large chests (with flat or slightly domed lids) in the collections of the Barcelona Leather...

Category

15th Century and Earlier French Antique Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Wrought Iron

A large and exceptional 15th c. Gothic leather and iron bound travelling chest

$33,783 Sale Price

20% Off

Victorian Carved Oak Wall Hanging Display Cabinet

Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight

Victorian carved oak wall hanging display cabinet This is a very large piece, it has 2 individual cupboards in the one piece. The c...

Category

Mid-19th Century Antique Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Oak

Victorian Carved Oak Wall Hanging Display Cabinet

$3,131

Rare Gothic German Oak and Iron Chest Known as "Stollentruhe" 16th century

Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE

The large rectangular standing chest on stile feet, extensively mounted with wrought ironwork straps with stylised sixfoil motif. These are fixed with convex head nails: running vert...

Category

16th Century German Antique Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Iron

Rare Gothic German Oak and Iron Chest Known as "Stollentruhe" 16th century

$30,163

19th Century French Caved Oak Corner Cabinet Vitrine with Period Gothic Panels

Located in Dallas, TX

The tracery panels on this oak corner cabinet vitrine were hand-carved during the Gothic period. A very talented French ebeniste incorporated the repurposed carvings into this two-bo...

Category

1870s French Antique Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Glass, Wood, Oak

19th Century French Caved Oak Corner Cabinet Vitrine with Period Gothic Panels

$4,200

17th Century Furniture Important Supposedly from Northern Italy, Antique Art.

Located in Saint-Ouen, FR

17th century furniture important supposedly from northern Italy, great decoration, carved walnut on all faces. Measures: H 2m53, W 1.76m, W 69cm.

Category

17th Century Italian Antique Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Wood

17th Century Furniture Important Supposedly from Northern Italy, Antique Art.

$11,462

Carved Oak Open Bookcase. The bookcase is good quality

Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight

Carved Oak Open Bookcase. The bookcase is good quality, with attractive carving on the front The bookcase is in good original condition and the shelves are adjustable This excellen...

Category

19th Century Antique Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Oak

Carved Oak Open Bookcase. The bookcase is good quality

$1,656

Rare Late Medieval 16th Century German Wrought Iron Oak Chest or Stollentruhe

Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE

A very impressive Westphalian Gothic chest or ‚Stollentruhe’, Westphalia, Germany, circa 1500-1550. Wrought iron mounted oak, partially carved. The monumental rectangular standing chest with full-height stiles, extensively mounted with wrought ironwork straps terminating in quatrefoil finials which ’wrap’ around the chest edges. These are fixed with convex head nails. The ironwork with some remains of an originally red painted surface. In addition, running along the edges of the lid at the front and sides is a plain iron band, close-nailed. The feet of the two front legs are finely carved on the front face, in low relief with a rectangular arched ’panel’ depicting on the left a lion, on the right a dragon holding each a coat of arms. Regarding the age of circa 500 years, this coffer is in exceptionally good condition, with only smaller restorations. Comparative literature • Baumeier, Stefan, Beschlagene Kisten; Die ältesten Truhen Westfalens, Essen, 2012. • Falke, Otto von, Deutsche Möbel...

Category

16th Century German Antique Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Iron

Rare Late Medieval 16th Century German Wrought Iron Oak Chest or Stollentruhe

$59,121

16th century large chest strongbox iron and walnut

Located in Vosselaar, BE

A quite large 16th century Italian so called 'coffre fort' . Coffers or chest like these were specifically made for cities or large villages to safegueard the gold and valuables. The...

Category

16th Century Italian Antique Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Iron

16th century large chest strongbox iron and walnut

$9,652

16th Century Gothic Carved Oak Chest, France

Located in Meulebeke, BE

France / 16th century / Chest / oak / Gothic A remarkable French Gothic oak chest dating from the 16th century, showcasing intricate hand-carved detailing throughout its façade. The...

Category

16th Century French Antique Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Oak

16th Century Gothic Carved Oak Chest, France

$3,318

Baltic NeoClassic Mahogany 18th Century Breakfront

Located in Queens, NY

"Continental (Probably Baltic-18th Century) Neo-classic mahogany breakfront cabinet with a lower section having 4 door under 4 drawers, all having an oval shaped inlaid pattern and an upper section with 4 Gothic style lattice glass door under a centered pediment Good; Wear consistent with age and use. Glass pane...

Category

18th Century Unknown Antique Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Mahogany

Baltic NeoClassic Mahogany 18th Century Breakfront

$39,500

Gothic front gallery chest, Westphalia around 1500 - 1550, oak

Located in Münster, DE

Gothic front gallery chest, Westphalia around 1500 - 1550, wrought iron bands, boxy oak body, partially carved. Monumental star-shaped key plate with original key, feet on the front ...

Category

16th Century German Antique Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Oak

Gothic front gallery chest, Westphalia around 1500 - 1550, oak

$15,926 Sale Price

20% Off

19th Century French Gothic Walnut Buffet

Located in Dallas, TX

19th Century French Gothic Walnut Buffet is a refined expression of the style which is considered one of the oldest furniture styles from France, dating back to the mid-12th century....

Category

1880s French Antique Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Bronze

19th Century French Gothic Walnut Buffet

$6,980

Antique Gothic High Cupboard of the Galloping Queen Holland

Located in Milano, IT

Majestic Old Gothic sideboard of the galloping Queen Holland. The sideboard can also be classified as a tall cupboard . The sideboard is provenance from the very large auction house ...

Category

1890s Dutch Antique Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Wood

Antique Gothic High Cupboard of the Galloping Queen Holland

$6,032

Antique Gothic Renaissance Revival Oak Wood Figural Carved Low Cabinet

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Antique Gothic Renaissance revival oak wood figural carved low cabinet. Item features relief carved figure to door, drape carved wooden sides, inset masonite board top (not original)...

Category

Late 19th Century Antique Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Oak

Antique Gothic Renaissance Revival Oak Wood Figural Carved Low Cabinet

$1,450

Large 17th Century Figural Carved Griffin Gothic Coffer or Blanket Chest

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Large Gothic coffer / bench, believed to date back to the 1600s. Item features ornate, hand-carved, detailing on the front panel, a very thick and solid ...

Category

17th Century European Antique Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Wood

Large 17th Century Figural Carved Griffin Gothic Coffer or Blanket Chest

$24,000

Antique English Oak Court Cabinet with Linen Fold Carved Panels

Located in Westfield, MA

This Antique English Oak Court Cabinet exudes history and craftsmanship, featuring intricately carved linen fold panels and bold detailing. The cente...

Category

Early 20th Century English Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Oak

Antique English Oak Court Cabinet with Linen Fold Carved Panels

$1,015

French Gothic Pine Reading Stand, Greeting Station, Greeter

Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight

French Gothic Pine Reading Stand, Greeting Station, Greeter An Original French Reading stand, this Gothic piece would make a great Front of House Oak Greeter The Stand has 8 arched ...

Category

1880s Antique Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Pine

French Gothic Pine Reading Stand, Greeting Station, Greeter

$3,075

Swiss 15th Century Chip-Carved Center Table - Cabinet

Located in Troy, NY

Unique and very rare piece with a rustic appearance and double function as table and / or cabinet, finished on all sides and can be freestanding. The front decorated with geometric c...

Category

15th Century and Earlier Swiss Antique Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Walnut, Pine

Swiss 15th Century Chip-Carved Center Table - Cabinet

$18,500

17th Century Italian Carved Cassone Trunk with Drawers and Inside Carved Panel

Located in Dallas, TX

Place this elegant antique coffer at the foot of a king size bed. Crafted in Italy, circa 1680, the rectangular trunk stands on bracket feet. Heavily carved on all three sides with a...

Category

Late 17th Century Italian Antique Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Fabric, Walnut

17th Century Italian Carved Cassone Trunk with Drawers and Inside Carved Panel

$7,100

French 16th and 19th Century Gothic Freestanding Oak Cabinet

Located in Troy, NY

French 16th and 19th Century Gothic Freestanding Oak Cabinet. Unique and rare cabinet with an open base, finished all around, so it could be freestanding in the room, the front panel...

Category

16th Century French Antique Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Wrought Iron

French 16th and 19th Century Gothic Freestanding Oak Cabinet

$24,000

Medieval-style antique solid wood trunk with wrought iron inserts

By Mice di rugiano domenico e c. s.n.c.

Located in Cantù, IT

Medieval-style antique solid wood trunk with wrought iron inserts

Category

20th Century Italian Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Wrought Iron

Medieval-style antique solid wood trunk with wrought iron inserts

$5,429

Important Gothic Pugin Style Victorian Walnut Dwarf Open Bookcase

By Pugin

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

We are delighted to offer for sale this very well made Gothic Pugin style very large dwarf open bookcase A very good looking and well made piece, the sh...

Category

19th Century English Antique Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Walnut

Important Gothic Pugin Style Victorian Walnut Dwarf Open Bookcase

$3,827

19th Century Two-Piece Gothic Style Oak Cabinet

Located in Dallas, TX

A handsome 19th Century two-piece gothic style oak cabinet. Beautifully carved and finished grapevines along the top and arms of the piece. A warm smiling face carving above the top ...

Category

19th Century Antique Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Oak

19th Century Two-Piece Gothic Style Oak Cabinet

$6,880

19th Century Carved Paneled Oak Coffer

Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight

19th century carved paneled oak coffer This is a lovely old piece, with a good patina, the chest has three moulded panels on the front a...

Category

Mid-19th Century Antique Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Oak

19th Century Carved Paneled Oak Coffer

$1,530

Amazing Chest, Italy, late 16th century

Located in Madrid, ES

Amazing Chest, Italy, late 16th century 93 x 214 x 74 cm Rectangular shaped chest, in walnut wood. Four bracket feet, with four corners with sculpted leaves. Table top with owl's bea...

Category

16th Century Italian Antique Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Wood

Amazing Chest, Italy, late 16th century

$9,049

Large Gothic chest strongbox

Located in Vosselaar, BE

A verry rare and quite large Gothic chest in untouched condition. Strongbox like these where made for the safekeeping of money, important documents and pr...

Category

16th Century Italian Antique Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Iron

Large Gothic chest strongbox

$6,032

18th Century Spanish Carved Walnut Coffer

Located in Vulpellac, Girona

This Spanish features a long rectangular shape body which has a geometrical design carved into the side panels. In the front underneath the coffer are two carved paw feet that projec...

Category

18th Century Spanish Antique Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Walnut

18th Century Spanish Carved Walnut Coffer

$4,584

Spanish Gothic Oak Cathedral Chest / Coffer Circa 1600

Located in Hoddesdon, GB

Spanish Gothic Cathedral Chest, Circa 1600, decorated with Gothic motifs and a central cross. Built from solid oak , showcasing a beautiful aged patina. It shows reassuring signs of ...

Category

16th Century Spanish Antique Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Oak

Spanish Gothic Oak Cathedral Chest / Coffer Circa 1600

$1,600

Early 16th century German Gothic Cabinet / Sideboard

Located in Troy, NY

Early 16th century German Gothic Cabinet / Sideboard. Very attractive, rare and large Gothic cabinet / sideboard with three drawers over two doors, constructed in three parts shelved interior. Beautiful Gothic tracery...

Category

16th Century German Antique Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Wood

Early 16th century German Gothic Cabinet / Sideboard

$85,000

French Charles X Birds Eye Maple Mirrored Console Table

Located in Queens, NY

French Charles X birds eye maple and ebonized trim and inlaid Gothic design console table with platform base and mirrored back with gilt floral carved edge on top.

Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Gold Leaf

French Charles X Birds Eye Maple Mirrored Console Table

$45,000

18th Century Carved Dresser with Geometric Carvings

Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight

18th Century Carved Dresser with Geometric Carvings This is a superb piece of Period Furniture, the top back is carved with geometric panels with plate grooves in the shelves The ...

Category

18th Century Antique Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Walnut

18th Century Carved Dresser with Geometric Carvings

$2,783

Fine Quality 19th Century Carved Oak Glazed Bookcase

Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight

Fine Quality 19th century carved oak glazed bookcase. This is a very attractive piece, it has 2 glazed doors which have a deeply carved border matching the top and base carving an...

Category

Mid-19th Century Antique Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Oak

Fine Quality 19th Century Carved Oak Glazed Bookcase

$2,922

Gothic Influence Credenza - 16th Century

Located in Brussels, Brussels

Superb and rare 16th century credenza from the southwest of France with a Gothic influence The credenza opens with two doors. Very beautiful ironwork with superb Gothic irons fitting...

Category

16th Century French Antique Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Chestnut

Gothic Influence Credenza - 16th Century

$6,032

Large Carved Oak Mule Chest, Green Man Marriage Chest

Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight

Large Carved Oak Mule Chest, Green Man Marriage Chest This is a profusely carved Marriage chest, the coffer has many detailed carved panels. On the front we have 2 family crests on ...

Category

18th Century Antique Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Oak

Large Carved Oak Mule Chest, Green Man Marriage Chest

$2,783

Victorian Golden Oak Green Man Desk

Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight

Victorian Golden Oak Green Man desk The Desk stands on chunky barley twist turned legs with a long stretcher. The Desk has one drawer in the centre ...

Category

Mid-19th Century Antique Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Oak

Victorian Golden Oak Green Man Desk

$2,783

A Heavy French Panelled Oak Coffer

Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight

A Heavy French Panelled Oak Coffer The chest has 2 moulded panels on the front and 1 more on each side with a carrying handle This is a very heavy piece it is made from solid Oak The top of the box has a planked and moulded edge and it has a large lidded candle box inside This good rustic piece has been waxed and is in good sound condition for its age, it has blacksmith made hinges and handles The Coffer measures 56’’ wide...

Category

Early 1800s Antique Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Oak

A Heavy French Panelled Oak Coffer

$1,113

18th Century Carved Oak Dresser with Kings This is a handsome piece

Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight

18th Century Carved Oak Dresser with Kings This is a handsome piece with a wonderful patina, the carving is of very fine quality, the very top section is even older it dates from t...

Category

18th Century Antique Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Oak

18th Century Carved Oak Dresser with Kings This is a handsome piece

$3,646

Large 17th Century Inlaid Panelled Oak Coffer

Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight

A large 17th century inlaid panelled oak coffer. This is a lovely old piece, with a superb patina, the chest has three deep moulded panels on the front...

Category

17th Century Antique Medieval Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Large 17th Century Inlaid Panelled Oak Coffer

$1,670

Medieval case pieces and storage cabinets for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Medieval case pieces and storage cabinets 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 case pieces and storage cabinets created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets, more furniture and collectibles, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, oak and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Medieval case pieces and storage cabinets 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 case pieces and storage cabinets, popular names associated with this style include Europa Antiques, Daystrom Furniture, Ferruccio Laviani, and Fratelli Boffi. 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 case pieces and storage cabinets differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $831 and tops out at $62,641 while the average work can sell for $5,548.