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.
Ancient Corinthian Black-Figured Stemless Cup
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Extremely spirited, the interior of this elegant cup displays a figure of a dancing fat-bellied komast. He wears a short padded tunic with exaggerated buttocks, and is surrounded by...
Terracotta
Greek Goddess Aphrodite Classical Greek Style Ceramic Ashtray or Catchall
Located in New York, NY
A ceramic ashtray or vide-poche catch-all with Greek Goddess, Aphroditie, in the classical Greek style, circa mid-20th century, Greece. Piece is ...
Ceramic
Round Ceramic Greek Key Trinket or Change Dish - Haviland & Co. Limoges France
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A round antique ceramic trinket dish or saucer by Haviland France. This piece will be a great addition to a nightstand or dressing table. The edge...
Ceramic, Paint
Hand-Painted Octopus Ceramic Bowl Italy Contemporary Faience 21st Century
Located in London, GB
Bottega Vignoli, Octopus bowl, 2023 Full-fire reduction earthenware faience 32cm diam. unique piece hand-painted Italian majolica. Bottega Vignoli is a ...
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
$736Sale Price|20% Off
H 5.91 in W 12.21 in D 5.52 in
Large Antique Silver Cup Rose Silver & Crystal European Decorative Bowl Cup
Located in Wembley, GB
Antique Silver-Plated Repoussé Floral Basket with Glass Liner, 14 x 31 cm An elegant and highly decorative antique silver-plated basket featuring exquisite repoussé floral decoratio...
Gold Plate, Silver, Sterling Silver
$769
H 1.19 in W 5.12 in D 1.19 in
Decorative Green Animal Ceramic Cup or Ashtray by Accolay, circa 1960
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
Elegant and decorative animal ceramic cup or ashtray. Original green ceramic glaze color and black decoration Signed under the base Original perfect conditions Measures: ...
Ceramic
$1,172
H 2.76 in Dm 9.85 in
Tommaso Barbi Signed Cream Ceramic and Brass Ashtray or Catchall, Italy 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Delightful round ashtray or valet tray in gorgeous burgundy ceramic and brass. This rare decorative piece is signed on the bottom and was designed by Tommaso Barbi and produced in It...
Brass
Large Midcentury French Mosaic Ceramic Bowl Gerbino Vallauris
Located in Austin, TX
Large midcentury French Mosaic Ceramic Bowl Gerbino Vallauris. Diameter / 12 inches.
Ceramic, Faience
Italian Marble Bowl Trinket Jewelry Dish
Located in New York, NY
A small beautiful Italian marble bowl with patchwork design, circa late-20th century, Italy. This small hand-made bowl, a patchwork of various marble...
Marble
Carl Auböck Model #4279 Brass Cup
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck Model #4279 Brass Cup Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural Viennese cup is executed in patinated brass. Originally conc...
Brass
$980 / item
H 3.55 in W 15.75 in D 14.57 in
Parana Ceramic Fruit Bowl, by Masanori Umeda from Memphis Milano
By Memphis Group, Masanori Umeda, Memphis Milano
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
Trigonal ceramic fruit bowl in pastel colors was originally designed by Masanori Umeda in 1983 for Memphis Milano. Was born in 1941 at Kanagawa in Japan. He obtained his diploma fro...
Ceramic
$1,479
H 5.12 in Dm 5.52 in
Tommaso Barbi Signed “Egg” Ashtrays / Catchall in Brass & Chrome, Italy 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Fantastic and iconic sculptural “egg” stacking ashtray in an elegant combination of brass and chrome-plated metal. This iconic piece was designed by Tommaso Barbi and produced in Ita...
Brass, Chrome
$360
H 2.36 in W 5.51 in D 5.11 in
1960s Mid-century Blue Ashtray or Catchall in Bullicante Murano Glass by Flavio
By Flavio Poli
Located in Milano, IT
1960s This blue ashtray/catchall is a stunning example of Mid-Century Modern Italian glassmaking, sculptural bowl/ashtray was designed by the legendary Flavio Poli . This piece featu...
Murano Glass
Georges Jouve and Mathieu Matégot Style Ceramic Standing Ashtray
By Mathieu Matégot, Georges Jouve
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sculptural catchall in the style of Matégot and Georges Jouve. Iron frame with circular base and circular top. Yellow and green ceramic dish sits in...
Iron
$651
H 0.79 in W 6.89 in D 7.09 in
Pietro Chiesa Hammered Nile Green Crystal Ashtray or Catchall, Italy 1950s
By Fontana Arte, Pietro Chiesa
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful nile green hammered crystal ashtray or catchall. This charming piece is attributed to the mastery of Pietro Chiesa and was produced in Italy during the 1950s. This squar...
Crystal
$380
H 1.96 in Dm 4.72 in
1960s Gorgeous Ashtray or Catchall in Bullicante Murano Glass by Flavio Poli
By Flavio Poli
Located in Milano, IT
1960s Gorgeous ashtray or catchall by Flavio Poli for Seguso in Bullicante Murano Glass. Made in Italy The item is in prestine excellent condition. Dimension: 4,72 diameter x 1,96 H ...
Murano Glass
Sold
H 10 in W 10 in D 1 in
Great Romances Anthony And Cleopatra by Carl Romanelli Incolay Stone Plate
Located in Van Nuys, CA
This carved stone plate features a romantic scene of Anthony and Cleopatra by Incolay of California. The plate features a vibrant, detailed illustration of Anthony and Cleopatra in a...
Stone
1970s Hand Painted Greek Bowl Adorned With Hand Painted Flowers
Located in Tarrytown, NY
1970s Hand Painted Classical Greek Bowl Adorned With Hand Painted Flowers is a Musem Replica Note on base: Hand painting by Kostas Tsekouras “Antica” Delphi A "crater" with p...
Terracotta
Sold
H 0.5 in W 4.25 in D 4.5 in
Vintage Jasperware Wedgwood Green Heart Trinket Dish with Religious Scene
By Wedgwood
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A small green jasperware heart dish by Wedgwood. This small trinket dish will be great on a side table for change, keys, or for a nightstand or coffee table. The piece is created in ...
Ceramic
Vintage Greek Reproduction Footed Pottery Bowl
Located in Fairfield, CA
A vintage greek reproduction footed pottery bowl. Decorated with highly detailed hand painted designs throughout. Handles formed on the sides. Mark...
Pottery
Sold
H 2.5 in W 14 in D 8.25 in
Antique Continental 800 Silver Figural Cherub Reticulated Center Bowl c1890
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Continental center ;bowl offers 800 silver construction with reticulated rim, double handles and Classical cherub scene in well, marked "800" as photographed, c1890 Measu...
Silver
Sold
H 12.75 in W 12.75 in L 12.75 in
Antique Figural Wilhelm Majolica Pottery Center Bowl with Classical Putti, c1900
Located in Big Flats, NY
A large antique figural Wilhelm Majolica center bowl offers ceramic construction with dancing cherubs, maker marks as photographed, c1900 Measures- 6.75''H x 12.75''W x 12.75''D.
Majolica, Pottery
Greek Clay Grand Tour Hanging Plate with Warrior
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A small clay Greek plate featuring a traditional Greek warrior. This piece is terracotta in color and features a Greek Key design around the edges. A man ...
Clay, Paint
Vintage Round Black Jasper Clay Grand Tour Greek Plate Set, Set of 4
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A set of four vintage Grand Tour hand-made wall plates made in Greece. Each of the plates depicts different areas in Greece, such as the Acropolis and its series of colonnades, and the columns of Jupiter. Each plate is made of clay, in jasperware black...
Ceramic, Paint
Sold
H 37.25 in W 23.25 in L 37.25 in
Antique Classical Silver Plated Bronze Figural Cherub Compote, circa 1890
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique figural compote offers silver plated bronze construction with central sculptural cherub over bowl with embossed Classical scene, raisedon figural plinth having cherubs, ci...
Silver Plate, Bronze
Blue Jasperware Collectible Catchall with Greek Chariot Motif by Wedgwood
By Wedgwood
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A beautiful collectible decorative plate by Wedgwood. This piece is in what most avid collectors now called, “Wedgwood Blue”. It is round, and has an embossed applied decoration around the rim as well as to the center. Along the rim are raised vines and flourishes in blue. At the center, is an applied design in cream horses and chariot with a woman driving...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Viennese Silver, Enamel and Rock Crystal Dish
Located in New Orleans, LA
This magnificent Viennese salver, intricately carved from solid rock crystal, combines the mastery of the Viennese enameling tradition with the radiance of rock crystal. Mounted in a...
Rock Crystal, Silver, Enamel
Pair of Chromed Angel Centerpieces
Located in Dallas, TX
Presenting a lovely pair of chromed angel centrepieces. Featuring a pair of female angels with wings and holding a bird in their right hand. Standing on ornate pedestals on 4 feet...
Metal, Chrome