Items made in Europe between the late fifth and mid-fifteenth centuries are known as medieval antiques. Benches and stools, trunks and chests, and textiles are among the items included. Furniture from the Middle Ages was typically made of oak wood and assembled with wooden pegs.
Families moved around a lot in medieval times. Viking raids and neighborly feuds were common, so relocating one’s belongings to safer areas was not uncommon. As a result, many medieval antiques were designed to be light and portable so that they could accompany a family on a move.
The trunk or chest is a very common medieval antique. Many people owned these pieces of furniture, which were popular due to their versatility. A chest could be used to store items as well as transport them. If necessary, it could also be used as seating, a table, or even a bed.
In the world of medieval antiques, chairs are uncommon. While the wealthy may have had their own chairs, the majority of the population did not. Instead of chairs, benches or stools were used. Occasionally, the head of the household would have his or her own chair.
Textiles, which were a very important part of medieval life due to their versatility, are also included in medieval antiques. They can be used to provide warmth, to divide a space into rooms, to hang over windows, and to decorate. Although some textiles were plain, the wealthy may have possessed elaborately decorated textiles. Although medieval textiles are still available, they are more difficult to come by than other antiques. This is due to the fact that the simpler, everyday textiles were used until they were worn out and were prone to fading and decay over time.
The use of oak is a common feature of medieval antiques. Because oak was a strong and readily available wood, it was frequently used. Although oak was commonly used, it was not the only wood used because different woods were available in different areas.
The use of wooden pegs to assemble medieval antiques is one of their most distinguishing features. Iron nails were occasionally substituted for pegs. Other than that, furniture was rarely put together in any other way. Even if glue had been available, it would not have been used to assemble a piece of furniture’s frame. It was occasionally used to add padding or decoration to a piece by attaching canvas or leather to the outside.