Classical Greek Urns
CLASSICAL GREEK STYLE
There is rare surviving furniture from ancient Greece, yet this classical style has informed design for centuries. Interiors of houses in antiquity were minimal, with much of a room’s color coming from frescoes on the walls and mosaics on the floors. Classical Greek furniture was sparing but finely crafted and influenced by Egyptian furniture design through Mediterranean trade.
Furnishings of the period were usually made from local wood like cypress, cedar, oak and willow from ancient Greece’s plentiful forests, although some pieces were carved from marble, such as a 300–200 B.C. throne with lion legs and a curved back now at the Getty Villa. Comfort and clean lines characterized designs during the Classical era, the symmetry and thoughtful proportions reflecting the architecture of Greek temples.
Some pieces of ancient Greek furniture were simple, rectangular platforms like the klinē, a multipurpose ancestor of today’s couches or daybeds that held cushions stuffed with wool, dry grass or down. These structures were used for both sleeping and dining, which wealthy Greeks did while reclining. At night, oil lamps illuminated rooms that frequently surrounded a garden courtyard.
Most of what scholars have learned about Greek furniture design owes to its representations in art like vases and stelae. The portable diphros stool, with its backless design and four turned legs, was one of the more common types of seating in daily Greek life — it appears as such for the gods on the Parthenon frieze. Stools without backs have been found in early Roman tombs, while benches were also common Greek seating furniture created for use in theaters. In houses of the Hellenistic period, benches seemingly functioned as tables, too.
Some designs evolved through adaptations by the Romans, including the klismos chair. After prominent archaeological excavations at Pompeii and Herculaneum, the klismos chair — with its four saber legs and the elegant curves that define its back — was a source of inspiration for aesthetics in eras ranging from 18th-century neoclassicism to 20th-century Art Deco.
Find a collection of Classical Greek decorative objects, wall decorations and building and garden elements on 1stDibs.
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Style: Classical Greek
Pair of Ferdinand Barbedienne Low Handled Bronze Borghese Urns
Located in Hastings, GB
Glorious and incredibly rare pair of 19th century gilt bronze low handled urns modelled after the original Borghese vase by Giovanni Zoffoli (c1785-1845) cast by Barbedienne in the ...
Category
1870s French Antique Classical Greek Urns
Materials
Bronze
Pair classical 19th Century Ormolu urns. after Balling for Versailles
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive pair of Classical 19th Century French gilded ormolu urns.
Each with two-headed Janus finials, the sides with boar's masks and bands of shells, oak leaves and Greek ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Classical Greek Urns
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Pair of Large Cast Iron Garden Urns, Garden Planters
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Pair of Large Cast Iron Garden Urns, Garden Planters
This is a superb and unusually large pair of cast iron urns
The urns are in...
Category
Early 1900s Antique Classical Greek Urns
Materials
Iron
Large Contemporary Cast Bronze Krater Urn on Pedestal with Mythological Figures
Located in Yonkers, NY
A large contemporary classical themed cast bronze urn on pedestal with lion handles. Featuring a tall silhouette, this exquisite urn was cast w...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Classical Greek Urns
Materials
Bronze
Large Antique Carved White Marble Medici Vase Garden Urn
Located in London, GB
Large antique carved white marble Medici vase garden urn
Continental, 20th Century
Height 73cm, diameter 55cm
Crafted in the 20th century, this ra...
Category
20th Century European Classical Greek Urns
Materials
Marble
19th Century French Neo-Greek Classical Bronze Lamp by Henry Cahieux
Located in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire
A 19th century French Neo-Greek Classical bronze lamp by Henry Cahieux probably cast by the Barbedienne foundry, Paris and inscribed Hy Cahieux, 21.5cm...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Classical Greek Urns
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Carved Pink Stone Urns, 20th Century
Located in Faversham, GB
A pair of decoratively carved pink stone urns. Perfect for garden or home alike. Price is for the pair.
English, 20th century.
Additional information:
H 36 cm (H 29.1 inches)
...
Category
20th Century British Classical Greek Urns
Materials
Stone
Mid 20th Century Italian Scavo Glass Roman Style Vase
Located in Elkhart, IN
A mid 20th century Roman style pink Scavo glass vase. Scavo glass was created in the mid 20th century by using a technique involving the application, to the surface of an object, of ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Classical Greek Urns
Materials
Glass
circa 1930s Bronze Urn / Jardinere with a Sculptural Hermaphrodite Handle
Located in San Francisco, CA
Offered here is a wonderful bronze jardinere or urn.
Has a sculptural hermaphrodite handle, that starts with a cherub holding a goose, then with the...
Category
1930s Unknown Vintage Classical Greek Urns
Materials
Bronze
Ancient Greek Style Terracotta Urn Form Lamp
Located in Stamford, CT
Red and black painted terracotta vase in the form of an ancient Greek krater now mounted on a black and giltwood base as a lamp. The urn form with two han...
Category
Early 20th Century Greek Classical Greek Urns
Materials
Terracotta
Pair of 19th Century, Classical Style Urns
Located in Newport Beach, CA
Grand pair of late 19th century, terracotta urns featuring reliefs of Neptune / Poseidon amidst the waves flanked by a hippocampus and a sea serpent. Stamped “Galloway Pottery, Phila...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Classical Greek Urns
Materials
Terracotta
Vases Art Deco Period in Grecian Style in Painted Spelter on Marble Bases, Pair
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair of Grecian Art Deco spelter vases on marble bases recall the glory days of the ancient Greeks before the roman conquest, and feature embossed patterns...
Category
1920s French Vintage Classical Greek Urns
Materials
Marble, Spelter
Large Antique Balkan Clay Storage Bottle or Urn Terracotta Vessel, 19th Century
Located in Andernach, DE
Antique hand crafted and unique stoneware jug with a square belly and round base. The jug comes with a round screw cap.
Possibly Balkan area or Italy, around 1800s to 1900.
Beautiful...
Category
Late 19th Century Greek Antique Classical Greek Urns
Materials
Clay, Terracotta
Oversized Antique Cast Iron Garden Urn by Walbridge & Co, Painted, Circa 1890
By Walbridge & Co.
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique oversized garden urn by Walbridge & Co. offers cast iron construction with embossed maker name, more recently painted, c1890
Measures...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Classical Greek Urns
Materials
Iron
Pair Greek Terra Cotta Kalyx-Kraters
Located in Houston, TX
Mid 20th century Attica terra cotta kalyx-kraters featuring gods and goddesses in early Classical Greek scenes. These two handle bowls were made for...
Category
Mid-20th Century Greek Classical Greek Urns
Materials
Terracotta
Related Items
A Champlevé Enamel Jardinière by Ferdinand Barbedienne
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Champlevé Enamel and Gilt-Bronze Mounted Jardinière by Ferdinand Barbedienne, the design attributed to Louis-Constant Sévin. This fine jardinière is decorated all over with foliate...
Category
19th Century French Antique Classical Greek Urns
Materials
Bronze, Enamel
Baré Planter, White Oak with Cast Bronze Planter and Tray
Located in Hamilton, ON
The Baré Planter is part of a family of surfaces designed around the act of indoor horticulture. Named after Jeanne Baré - the first woman to circumnavigate the globe - each object in the series provides an elegant, elevated home for your houseplants.
The smallest of the set features a cast bronze...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Canadian Classical Greek Urns
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Neoclassical Garden Urns
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This stylish set of English 19th century cast iron Neoclassical Revival garden urns were acquired from a Palm Beach estate.
Note: Dimensions of square bases are 8.25" width x 8.1...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Classical Greek Urns
Materials
Iron
Rare Set of 4 Large English Antique Terracotta Garden Urns
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A set of 4 large scale English antique terracotta garden urns or planters by Lambton Firebrick and Sanitary Pipe Works circa 1910. To find four huge 100-year-old antique terracotta planters...
Category
Early 20th Century English Classical Greek Urns
Materials
Terracotta
19th Century German Bronze Footed Urn
Located in Chicago, IL
19th century German bronze footed urn. Features gargoyle feet and six natural scenes of birds divided by projected intricacies.
Dimensions: 6", Diam x 5.75...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Classical Greek Urns
Materials
Bronze
Pair of French Gray Painted Cast Iron Garden Urns
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of French gray-painted cast iron garden urns circa 1910. They feature an unusual, whimsical shape, beautifully decorative rims and a rich patina. Sold together and priced $4,400...
Category
1910s French Vintage Classical Greek Urns
Materials
Iron
Pair of 19 Century Cast Iron Urns
Located in London, Park Royal
19th French century cast iron urns. Scrolled decorative handles.
Very nice patina.
Category
19th Century French Antique Classical Greek Urns
Materials
Iron
19th Century Satsuma Vase or Lamp
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality late 19th century (Meiji period 1868-1912) Japanese satsuma vase or lamp. Having classical gilded decoration of flowers, birds and scholars. Mounted on a fretted ormol...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Classical Greek Urns
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of French Ormolu and Marble Urns Signed Sanglan, 19th Century
Located in Cypress, CA
Exquisite 19th century pair of French Napoleon III ormolu-mounted green marble urns, signed “SANGLAN.”
The foliage decorated ormolu lid is topped by resting bee above an ovoid-shaped marble, flanked by vine and foliate handles, centred by lovebirds, all resting on an octagonal marble and gilt bronze base.
Ernest Sanglan...
Category
19th Century French Antique Classical Greek Urns
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Ferdinand Barbedienne Set of Gilt Bronze-Mounted Champleve Onyx Garniture
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a Ferdinand Barbedienne set of gilt bronze-mounted champleve onyx garniture. It consist of two urns and one large oval vase/jardiniere. The vase...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Classical Greek Urns
Materials
Onyx, Bronze
Antique French Cast Iron Urn Planter
Located in Pearland, TX
A stylish antique early 20th-century French neoclassical style cast iron urn or planter. This fine jardiniere is solid and heavy with a lovely patina, and would be lovely displayed i...
Category
Early 20th Century French Classical Greek Urns
Materials
Iron
Large Belle Époque Cast Iron Urn
Located in Bloomfield Hills, MI
No matter the scope of your garden and landscape, urns are an opulent way to enhance your space. In the height of culture in the 19th century, there was no better way to portray luxu...
Category
19th Century American Antique Classical Greek Urns
Materials
Iron
Previously Available Items
Greek Terra Cotta Kalyx-Kraters
Located in Houston, TX
Mid 20th century Attica terra cotta kalyx-kraters featuring gods and goddesses in early Classical Greek scenes. Two handle bowls were made for mixing wine and water and named after t...
Category
Mid-20th Century Greek Classical Greek Urns
Materials
Terracotta
Maitland Smith Marble Cornucopia Vase
Located in London, GB
A tessellated Cornucopia in Emperador Marble by Maitland Smith. A large vase/urn. A Tessellation (or Tiling) is when we cover a surface with a pattern of flat shapes so that there ar...
Category
Late 20th Century North American Classical Greek Urns
Materials
Marble
Antique English Minton Classical Hand Painted & Gilt Porcelain Covered Urn 19thC
By Minton
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique English Minton covered urn offers Classical hand-painted reserves with a woman drawing water and, en verso, a cherub, on swirled pink strip groun...
Category
19th Century English Antique Classical Greek Urns
Materials
Porcelain, Paint
H 11.75 in W 6.25 in D 4.5 in
Pair Cast Iron Handled Grecian Urns on Floral Embossed Plinths 20th C
Located in Big Flats, NY
A pair of Grecian cast iron garden urns offer foliate embossed bowls with flanking scroll form handles having central mask, raised on floral embossed plinths, 20th century
Measures-...
Category
20th Century Classical Greek Urns
Materials
Iron
Antique Austrian Royal Vienna Hand Painted & Enamel Decorated Portrait Urn c1890
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Austrian Royal Vienna covered urn offers highly decorated porcelain construction with portrait reserve having Classical Greek woman...
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Classical Greek Urns
Materials
Enamel
H 15.75 in W 6 in D 6 in
Solid Silver Lidded Goblet With Mythological Scenery, France, Around 1870
Located in Vienna, AT
Solid silver goblet, widening conically upwards, on a separate base with acanthus leaf decoration, supported by acanthus leaf chapter and three vol...
Category
1870s French Antique Classical Greek Urns
Materials
Silver
H 11.03 in W 8.08 in D 5.52 in
Pair of Contemporary Black Stone Porphry Urns
Located in Hallowell, US
Pair of very heavy dense stone urns, custom made. 14" high. Polished by hand of dense crystalline stone. Ideal for a console table. I commissioned to have these made at great expense...
Category
20th Century Baltic Classical Greek Urns
Materials
Marble
Vintage Pair of Cast Iron Classical Garden Urns, 20th Century
Located in Big Flats, NY
A vintage pair of Classical garden planters offer urn form with egg and dart rim and mellon base, raised on plinth with square base, 20th century.
Measures- 24.5" height x 18.5" d...
Category
20th Century American Classical Greek Urns
Materials
Iron
2 Antique Porcelain Cameo Mantel Vases Urns Grecian Scene Shell Inlay
Located in Dayton, OH
2 antique porcelain cameo mantel vases urns Grecian scene shell inlay 16"
Two antique black satin finished mantel vases. Each features a Grecian she...
Category
Early 20th Century Classical Greek Urns
Materials
Shell, Porcelain
French Old Pairs Gilt Porcelain Classical Urns with Grecian Masks, circa 1880
By Old Paris
Located in Big Flats, NY
Antique French Old Pairs classical urns offer porcelain construction with double handles having Grecian faces, gilt highlights throughout with scrolled insignia on front possible "LA...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Classical Greek Urns
Materials
Ceramic, Porcelain
Pair of Classical Figural Bronze Neoclassical Ewers, 19th Century
Located in Stamford, CT
Pair of Classical figurative bronze neoclassical ewers, 19th-early 20th century. Each depicting Grecian woman water bearers along with female torsos having...
Category
1910s Vintage Classical Greek Urns
Materials
Bronze
Ancient Greek Style Terracotta Krater Vase with Horse and Rider
Located in Stamford, CT
An impressive classical Greek Attic ware terracotta calyx krater in the ancient style with beautifully painted black figure of a galloping equestrian, fra...
Category
Early 20th Century Greek Classical Greek Urns
Materials
Terracotta
Classical Greek urns for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Classical Greek urns 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 urns created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, building and garden elements, lighting and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Classical Greek urns made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original urns, popular names associated with this style include Galloway Pottery, Henry Cahieux and Ferdinand Barbedienne, Maitland Smith, and Walbridge & Co.. 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 urns differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $509 and tops out at $15,000 while the average work can sell for $2,215.
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