Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
During Mount Vesuvius’ eruption in 79 A.D., Pompeii and Herculaneum in today’s Italy were preserved as they were on the day of their destruction. Particularly at Herculaneum, furnishings were carbonized beneath volcanic ash. This was pivotal to understanding how Classical Roman furniture was designed. Archaeological investigations and printed reproductions of discoveries would influence styles evoking this ancient civilization, from the Renaissance to neoclassicism.
While knowledge of Classical Roman furniture comes from rare surviving pieces, it is also derived from frescoes and sculptures portraying Roman life. Much of Roman art, architecture and design was informed by Greece — Roman architect, military engineer and writer Marcus Vitruvius Pollio, whose timeless De architectura is taught in contemporary architecture classes and pays tribute to classical architecture, visited Greece while working under Julius Caesar and admired the country’s architectural developments. The Roman solium references the Greek thronos, a stately chair of honor with an upright form and footstool. As the Roman Empire spread across Europe and into North Africa and Western Asia, the expansion of trade for silver, silk, marble and wood allowed for more luxurious designs.
Classical Roman furniture was made from bronze, wood and stone — in particular, marble — with ornate touches like tortoiseshell veneers, bone and glass inlays and claw feet. Ornaments depicting lion heads and mythological figures were sculpted from silver, bronze and ivory. Compared to the decorative attention given to the mosaic floors and wall paintings, however, furniture for even a wealthy house was minimal. It focused on the necessities for guests arriving for both socializing and business and the rooms housing family, relatives and enslaved people.
The triclinium dining room had banquet couches, items so prized they were sometimes interred with the deceased. Tall bronze or terracotta candelabras held oil lamps for lighting. Carved marble tables reflected status, while the lararium home shrine demonstrated faith.
Find a collection of Classical Roman decorative objects, tables, seating and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Mid-20th Century Unknown Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Cement
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Ceramic, Majolica, Earthenware
Mid-18th Century Unknown Antique Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Blown Glass
1950s Italian Vintage Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Pottery
Mid-20th Century Italian Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Murano Glass
Early 2000s Italian Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Marble
1990s Italian Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Carrara Marble
Early 20th Century Unknown Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Brass
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Marble
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Glass
1970s Italian Vintage Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Murano Glass
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Terracotta
Late 20th Century Italian Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Silver
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Marble
Late 20th Century Italian Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Pottery
19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Porcelain
15th Century and Earlier Cypriot Antique Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Limestone
Early 20th Century Italian Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Blown Glass, Art Glass
20th Century Italian Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century Italian Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Terracotta
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Ceramic, Porcelain
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Onyx, Marble
Late 20th Century Italian Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Glass
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Terracotta
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Terracotta
20th Century Italian Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Terracotta
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Terracotta
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Terracotta
20th Century Italian Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Terracotta
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Terracotta
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Terracotta
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Terracotta
1920s Japanese Vintage Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Brass, Enamel
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Terracotta, Wood
20th Century Italian Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Bronze
15th Century and Earlier North African Antique Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Clay
2010s Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Ceramic, Pottery, Clay
Mid-19th Century French Antique Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Iron
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Marble, Bronze
Mid-19th Century French Antique Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Iron
20th Century Italian Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Blown Glass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Ceramic, Majolica
Mid-19th Century French Antique Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Iron
Mid-20th Century Italian Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Ceramic
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Ceramic, Majolica
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Ceramic, Majolica
20th Century Italian Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Murano Glass
1880s Italian Antique Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Glass
Mid-20th Century Italian Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Marble, Bronze
Early 20th Century French Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Bronze
19th Century French Antique Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Bronze
19th Century French Antique Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Porcelain
Late 20th Century Italian Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Art Glass
1920s Italian Vintage Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Terracotta
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Iron
Mid-20th Century Swedish Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Ceramic
2010s Classical Roman Vases and Vessels
Resin