Furniture in History - Italian Renaissance

Italian Renaissance



After the plague, in the 14th century, Medieval Europe was divided into separated countries.  They were ruled by king and bishops. The kings financed the exploration of new lands. These countries were becoming richer and more prosperous.  During the Early Renaissance, in the half of 15th century, there was an enormous change in arts, paintings, sculptures, architecture and furniture.

This period was know as the intellectual period, with splendid ceremonies and parades. Florence was the capital of Renaissance culture and a very wealthy city, due to baking and commerce.  Florence and other Italian cities looked to classical Rome as a model. And the rebirth of classical culture begins.

People in Italy began to build enormous town homes and pallazi and they filled their homes with art work, furniture and objects that reflected their status.

The furniture in that time had ecclesiastic and Roman influence, and some Gothic Influence was still present. One of the most important features of the Italian Renaissance furniture is that they were often massive and highly decorated.  The most common woods used for furniture was walnut, pine, cypress, chestnut, elm and poplar.  They were decorated with marquetry and inlays of ivory, stones, ebony, and grotesque carvings. The use of columns, common in Greek and Roman buildings were now being used in furniture design. 

Relief ornament using carving was the most common way to embellish the furniture during the 16th century.  Pastiglia and certosina also became very popular in this period. After the 15th century, turning became very popular and had a highly decorative value in the Italian Renaissance furniture. Finials, bedposts and some furniture legs were often turned.

During the Renaissance, the chair, once a symbol of status and power underwent  a process of democratization, and now became accessible to anyone.

Cassone

Dante Chair

Sgabello Chair

                  

The X-chairs, derived from the Roman curule and was the most common piece of furniture.  It was made of two pairs of short beans intersecting at a central joint and linked to a stretcher.  These chairs were known as the savonarola chairs. Often upholstered in velvet or leather, light weighted and portable. Other famous seating was the the Sgabello chair, with a octagonal seat over a solid trestle support and a tall back.

The cassapanca, was a combination of chest and seats. Solid, massive and rectangular this piece was often mounted in a dais. The hinged lid served as the seats. 

The most important piece used for storage during the Italian Renaissance was the cassone. It was also know as the marriage chest.  The side panels were usually covered with colored or gilded gesso built into reliefs, classical figures and scenes. It was also common to be painted by a fine artist or carved. 

The credenza, a rectangular movable storage also became an important piece of furniture. It often had a oblong top over a frieze, and two or three drawers, over two or three doors.

An famous item found inside most of Italian houses was the long, rectangular table. Massive and highly decorated, with a long stretcher between the end supports.  They also has center tables, with round, hexagonal or octagonal tops.  The bases were usually columnar, baluster or pedestal. They were used in the center of the room, or in occasional events.

The bed, also known as letto, was in a rectangular form with paneled head and footboards.  They used textile treatments in their beds to protect people against insects and cold weather.

The Italian Renaissance furniture were decorated with care, they paid extreme attention to details.  Proportion was perfect and the classical purity was clearly reflected in the details. 

Photos:http://lwooddesigns.wordpress.com


By Fernanda Reis