Classical Roman Decorative Objects
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.
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Terracotta
Early 20th Century Andorran Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Plaster
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Cast Stone
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Fruitwood
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Fruitwood
Early 20th Century European Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Plaster
Mid-20th Century English Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Ceramic
19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Marble
20th Century French Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Composition
20th Century European Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Plaster
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Marble
1950s Italian Vintage Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Stucco
20th Century British Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Cast Stone
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Concrete
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Plaster
1870s Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Bronze
Mid-20th Century Italian Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Cast Stone
Early 20th Century Italian Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Plaster
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Concrete
1960s Italian Vintage Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Terracotta
1910s Italian Vintage Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Ceramic
Early 20th Century Italian Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Plaster
Early 20th Century Italian Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Alabaster, Belgian Black Marble
1850s Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Marble, Bronze
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Bronze
1880s German Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Porcelain
Late 20th Century Italian Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Cast Stone
17th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Bronze
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Carrara Marble
17th Century French Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Stone
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Marble
19th Century Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Gesso, Plaster
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Terracotta
20th Century English Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Iron
Mid-19th Century French Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Bronze
Early 1900s French Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Plaster
Mid-20th Century French Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Plaster
Early 1900s Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Ceramic
Mid-20th Century French Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Plaster
19th Century French Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Bronze
19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Porcelain
Late 19th Century French Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Bronze
1980s Italian Vintage Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Ceramic
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Marble
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Marble
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Marble
Late 20th Century Italian Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Pottery
Late 19th Century French Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Bronze
Late 19th Century Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Bronze
15th Century and Earlier Cypriot Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Limestone
Late 19th Century European Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Marble, Bronze
15th Century and Earlier European Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Marble
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Marble
Early 20th Century Italian Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Blown Glass, Art Glass
Early 1900s Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Marble, Bronze
1920s French Vintage Classical Roman Decorative Objects
Plaster