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
Very Large Egyptian Imperial Red Porphyry, Roman Fragment
Located in Bruxelles, BE
Very large partially carved and polished Imperial red porphyry
Roman fragment
Measures: 72 x 42 x 21,5 cm.
Category
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Porphyry
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 ...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Stone, Sandstone
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
Roman Style Arched Alcove with Keystone Top and Interior Shelf
Located in New York, NY
Wooden half dome shaped alcove which features a Roman style arch and keystone with an interior shelf. This antique tall, recessed niche has a cream exterior with the interior and key...
Category
20th Century American Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Wood
Roman Marble Column Capital
Located in Newport Beach, CA
Rare Roman Carrara marble column capital with relief carving. Natural loss of pattern in areas consistent with age. Italy. Circa 13th century.
Category
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Marble
Classical Marble Sink Basin
Located in Cranbrook, Kent
Cut from one block of Carrara Marble,
the piece is made to order so custom sizing available.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Carrara Marble
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
Set of 19th C. French Stone Finials on Iron Bases
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of (3) Limestone Finials mounted on Iron bases. The finials are (3) different sizes:
1) 16"H X 8"W X 8"D
2) 17"H X 8"W X 8"D
3) 13.5"H X 8"W X 8"D
Category
19th Century French Antique Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Limestone, Iron
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
Victorian Brass Caryatid Door Knocker
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
A Victorian brass Caryatid door knocker,
A Large Victorian Brass door knocker decorated with facer of s caryatid wearing a large head dress
The door knocker measures 10” high x ...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Brass
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 Corinth...
Category
15th Century and Earlier French Antique Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Stone
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 with applied draped laurels. Centered...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Carrara Marble, Statuary Marble, Steel
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 flowers, fruits and leaves.
Dril...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Cast Brass Roman Figural Furniture Appliques
Located in New York, NY
A detailed cast brass set of artistic Roman figures furniture accents from Belgium. These accents can be anchored to a furniture piece to add interest or can be used in other possibl...
Category
Early 20th Century European Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Brass
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
Antique Italian Carved Marble Bas Relief 'Lady and Peacock'
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century Italian carved white marble bas relief depicting a lady standing by a tree holding a garland of flowers over a peacock.
Dimensions:
Height: 30.5"
Width: 33.5"
De...
Category
1890s Italian Antique Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Marble
Pair of Tall Faux Sienna Marble Tuscan Style Columns
Located in Nashville, TN
With faux distress, faked cracks, crevices, nicks etc. nice slick marble-like sheen. Scagliola composite.
Tuscan, a Roman style with Doric influence. Simple entablature with no flut...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Scagliola
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
Materials
Plaster
Ancient Roman Carved Marble Roundel
Located in Essex, MA
Depicting a robed man holding a scroll in a circular frame. Purchased in Southern California.
Category
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Marble
Antique Stone Garden Jardinière
Located in Sheffield, MA
The square antique garden jardinière made of stone is embellished with four lion's heads and feet. Wonderful garden element.
Top measurement: 10.75" x 10.50"
Base measurement:...
Category
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Stone
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 centered pegs.
Height to the tip - 44".
Category
Mid-19th Century European Antique Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Wood
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 corner of a building. Two layers of ac...
Category
19th Century Unknown Antique Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Marble
Pair of Large North Italian Marbled Wood Columns 19th Century
Located in Berlin, DE
A pair of exceptional large North Italian wood columns
North-Italy early 19th century
Poli chrome marbled with great patina
Measures: The larger 60cm x 60cm base.50cm Ø, 171cm hig...
Category
1790s Italian 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...
Category
18th Century Unknown Antique Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Wood
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 the scrolls, which according to anc...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Hardwood
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 uncarved backings.
Category
Early 19th Century French 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
Piece of Roman Stone Cornicing, circa 200 BC
Located in London, GB
A piece of Roman stone cornicing, circa 200 BC.
Category
15th Century and Earlier Antique Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Stone
Piece of Roman Stone Cornicing, circa 200 BC
Located in London, GB
A piece of Roman stone cornicing, circa 200 BC.
Category
15th Century and Earlier Antique Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Stone
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...
Category
18th Century Unknown Antique Classical Roman Architectural Elements
Materials
Wood
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