Classical Roman Architectural Elements
CLASSICAL ROMAN STYLE
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.
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Style: Classical Roman
Pair of 19th C. Zinc Flames on Wood Bases
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This pair of 19th-century finials features sculptural flame motifs cast in metal, likely zinc, known for its durability and weather resistance. Each flame form rises organically with...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Zinc
19th Century Italian Carved Marble Column Capital
Located in Austin, TX
A stately and well carved marble Corinthian column capital, 19th century, Italy.
Presented and displayed inverted, with a typical decorative motif of acanthus and volute.
Perfect f...
Category
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Marble
Pair of Tall Fluted Gustavian Painted Wood Corner Columns
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A Pair of Tall Early 1900's Fluted and Gustavian Painted Corner Columns in Wood.
Bring classic architecture into your home with these impressive vintage column corner columns painted...
Category
Early 20th Century European Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Wood, Paint
Pair of 19th C. Zinc Flames on Wood Bases
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This pair of 19th-century finials features sculptural flame motifs cast in metal, likely zinc, known for its durability and weather resistance. Each flame form rises organically with...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Zinc
19th Century Italian Carved Marble Architectural Frieze Sculpture of Caesar
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
19th Century Italian carved marble Architectural Frieze Sculpture of Caesar, Of rectangular form the finely carved Carrera Marble 50" x 20" slab w...
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Late 19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Carrara Marble, Statuary Marble, Steel
19th Century Italian Architectural Corinthian Wood Columns on Sandstone Plinths
Located in Firenze, IT
This tall pair of Italian 19th century Louis XVI style hand carved walnut architectural columns with Corinthian capitals and stone base boasts a fluted and slender body crowned with a Corinthian capital deeply sculpted on the round, decorated with carvings of acanthus leaves, rosettes and scrolls elegantly finished at the base with a beaded border.
These monumental architectural wooden elements rest on a round shaped sandstone pedestal ending with a square base socle.
Over two centuries in age and hailing from Italy, this dramatic pair of highly decorative antique building elements are made out of solid wood carved in the round, handcrafted as pure representations the original ancient Greek models with faithful and accurate fluted columns and scrolled capitals decorated with volutes.
The stone block plinths below provide the ideal elevation, complete with fine moldings and raw surface.
This large pair of antique Greco-Roman style boasting great and undisputed antiquarian value and high end Italian craftsmanship quality will anchor any interior design. Suitable for historic houses entrances or portal, important offices or adaptable to the most imaginative and high-level ideas: to flank a bookcase or customized shelving...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Stone, Sandstone
Pair of Tall Faux Sienna Marble Tuscan Style Columns
Located in Nashville, TN
With faux and real distress, faked and real cracks, crevices, nicks ,dings etc.
Tuscan, a Roman style with Doric influence. Simple entablature with no fluting to the shaft. Well de...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Scagliola
Pair of Tall Fluted Gustavian Painted Wood Corner Columns
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A Pair of Tall Early 1900's Fluted and Gustavian Painted Corner Columns in Wood.
Bring classic architecture into your home with these impressive vintage column corner columns painted...
Category
Early 20th Century European Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Wood, Paint
Pair of Early 20thC Hand Carved Carrara Marble Guardian Angels Praying
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Amazing pair of hand chisiled marble statues of kneeling guardian angels praying. Hand crafted in Italy from Carrara Marble in about the 1920s. These were kept in storage for a numbe...
Category
1920s Italian Vintage Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Carrara Marble
Polychromed Classical Styled Carved Garland or Festoon
Located in Nashville, TN
Hand carved wood architectural fragment . Polychromed in colors of gaiety .In style of ancient classical Roman garlands or festoons .
FESTOON CARVED IN WOOD CARVING OF A GARLAND ...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Wood
Pair of 19th C. Italian Stone Artichokes
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of 19th century weathered stone artichoke finials. They are all hand chiseled and have bulbous shapes with a layered, petal-like pattern coverin...
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19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Stone
Roman Corinthian Capital, Flavian Period, 1st Century AD
Located in Bruxelles, BE
Roman corinthian capital
Marble
Flavian period, 1st century AD
H 40 x L 42 x P 40
Provenance : Private collection United Kingdom.
Category
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Marble
Pair of Marble Roman Capitals, 2nd Century, France
Located in Girona, Spain
Pair of marble Roman capitals.
Corinthian order
Made with stone and with matching black metal bases.
Roman antiquities.
“Certificate of Authenticity”.
Pair of monumental Corinthian capitals, decorated in two registers with acanthus leaves. Its large size indicates that its use would be destined for an important public temple.
From the French region of Nimes.
Provenance: The Chenel Collection.
2nd century...
Category
15th Century and Earlier French Antique Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Stone
Antique Corinthian Corner Capital
Located in Sheffield, MA
The antique Corinthian corner capital is made of veined marble painted white. One corner is cut away so that the capital can protrudes from the corn...
Category
19th Century Unknown Antique Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Marble
19th Century Italian Carved Marble Column Capital
Located in Austin, TX
A stately and well carved marble Corinthian column capital, 19th century, Italy.
Presented and displayed inverted, with a typical decorative motif of acanthus and volute.
Perfect f...
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Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Marble
Pair of Antique Carved Stone Capitals and Bases
Located in Sheffield, MA
The pair of antique stone capitals come with separate semi-circular bases. These are to be attache to a wall like pilasters. Can be used for planter bases, small side table or as gar...
Category
19th Century American Antique Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Stone
Bronze Architectural Push Pull double Door Handles with Ancient of King
Located in London, GB
Set of two rounded bronze door handles based on medieval or ancient coins resembling a crowned king.
These door handles are European 1970s. Their reliefs full of fine detail have the...
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1970s European Vintage Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Large Cast Gate Post Finials Sculptures
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Pair of Large Cast Gate Post Finials Sculptures
A pair of large gate pier finials
This is a superb large pair of Globe Gate Post finials in good used condition
The finials are 19...
Category
1960s Vintage Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Concrete
Antique Hand-Carved Wood Corinthian Pilaster Capitals
Located in Sheffield, MA
The antique Corinthian pilaster capitals are made of hand-carved hardwood. They are embellished with leaves and flowers. Leaves even protrude from...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Architectural Elements
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Hardwood
A Pair of 19th Century Green Wall Brackets These are beautifully designed pi
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
A Pair of 19th Century Green Wall Brackets
These are beautifully designed pieces, they are in a classical style and painted in a very dark green, they could be used as wall brack...
Category
19th Century Antique Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Plaster
Pair of Painted Antique Columns with Corinthian Capitals
Located in Sheffield, MA
The pair of antique Corinthian columns are painted with a marblized effect on each base and shaft and have black capitals, above which are ce...
Category
Mid-19th Century European Antique Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Wood
Pair of Antique Pilasters and Matching Corinthian Capitals
Located in Sheffield, MA
The pair of antique pilasters have semicircular fluted shafts, decorative bases and flat backs, all hand-carved. Also carved by hand with leaves and vines are the matching Corinthian capitals...
Category
18th Century Unknown Antique Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Wood
Large Roman Style Bronze Figural Architectural Element
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Large Roman style bronze figural architectural element, depicting a goddess holding on her head an acanthus column with a bronze urn cascading with ...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Antique Marble Pilaster Console Plinth
Located in Sheffield, MA
The pair of antique stone console table supports or pedestals have finely carved fluted fronts topped by acanthus leaves set against uncarv...
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Early 19th Century French Antique Classical Roman Architectural Elements
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Marble
Pair of Antique Cast Plaster Corbels
Located in Sheffield, MA
The pair of antique cast corbels are hollow and are secured with iron horizontal bars. Can be hung for display or use as brackets for shelving. Also will work well for bookends.
Category
19th Century European Antique Classical Roman Architectural Elements
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Plaster
Ancient Roman Carved Marble Roundel
Located in Essex, MA
Depicting a robed man holding a scroll in a circular frame, the hairstyle recalls that Emperor Gallienus; rough technique is compatible with the late Third Ce...
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15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Marble
19th Century Bronze Plaque, The Legend of Gaius Mucius Scaevola
Located in Dallas, TX
This large, impressive patinated bronze plaque has been cast in high relief and patinated to a rich brown color. The scene depicts the legend of Gaius Mucius Scaevola.
According t...
Category
19th Century European Antique Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Bronze
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Classical Roman architectural elements for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Classical Roman architectural elements 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 architectural elements created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include building and garden elements, wall decorations, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with stone, marble and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Classical Roman architectural elements made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and Unknown pieces for sale on 1stDibs. 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 architectural elements differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $190 and tops out at $120,000 while the average work can sell for $4,800.