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.
Black with 24K Gold Porcelain Jar with Lid Made in Greece by Spyropoulos 1960s
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage I Spyropoulos Handmade in Greece black and 24K Gold Finish Porcelain Jar with Lid. Vintage handmade in Greece Black and 24k Gold Trinket Porcelain Dish with Lid. Greek Mythol...
Porcelain
$4,000Sale Price|20% Off
Greek Style Engraved and Chased Gold Tone Metal Large Pyxis
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a Greek style engraved and chased gold tone metal large Pyxis ( a cylindrical vessel/box with a lid that can be made of wood, ivory or metal). In the ancient times, it was mo...
Metal
Classical 19th Century Gilded Ormolu Embossed Tea Caddy
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A wonderful fine quality 19th century classical embossed tea caddy, having Bacchus like scenes of children playing, a goat and horse and much jollity. Elkington style.
Ormolu
Vintage Ceramic Baby Blue Decorative Covered Dish with Lid and White Figures
By Wedgwood
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A round ceramic bright baby blue covered dish with a lid. This piece is round and features a figurative Mediterranean scene in white on top of a bright baby blue glazed background. T...
Ceramic, Paint
$414Sale Price|20% Off
H 3.94 in W 9.45 in D 3.15 in
Antique Silver Plated Butter Dish Domed Lid, Vintage English Covered Butter Dish
Located in Wembley, GB
Antique Silver Plated Butter Dish with Domed Lid Vintage English Covered Butter Server Elegant Tableware & Collectible Dining Décor Introduce timeless sophistication to your dining table with this elegant antique silver-plated butter dish, beautifully crafted with a fitted domed lid and an ornate scroll finial handle. Featuring a refined oval silhouette and an intricately decorated floral border, this charming vintage piece embodies the elegance of traditional English silverware while remaining both practical and decorative. Designed to serve butter, soft cheeses, pâté, preserves, or gourmet accompaniments, this covered butter server makes a striking centrepiece for breakfast tables, afternoon tea, formal dining, or country house interiors. Its softly aged silver-plated finish has developed a beautiful character over time, enhancing its authentic antique appeal. Whether displayed in a classic farmhouse kitchen, a Victorian or Edwardian dining room, or incorporated into a contemporary luxury interior, this exceptional piece effortlessly combines history, craftsmanship, and everyday functionality. Perfect for collectors of antique silver, interior designers, and anyone seeking unique vintage tableware, this butter dish also makes a thoughtful wedding, anniversary, or house-warming gift. Features Authentic antique silver-plated butter dish with matching domed lid Elegant oval design with decorative floral border Beautiful ornate scroll finial handle Ideal for serving butter, cheese, pâté, preserves, or hors d'oeuvres Classic English tableware with timeless appeal Lovely vintage condition with a naturally aged patina consistent with age and careful use Suitable for Victorian, Edwardian, French Country, Traditional, Farmhouse, and Modern Classic interiors This beautifully preserved antique butter dish is more than a serving piece—it's a statement of refined taste, adding elegance and heritage to every table setting. Keywords: Antique Silver Butter Dish...
Gold Plate, Silver, Sterling Silver
Handmade Antique Chess Set Regency Style Hardwood Pieces, Circa 1900
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a very good and complete handmade, hardwood chess set game of 32 pieces in a handmade pine box with a sliding lid, which we date to the turn of the 19th Century, Circa 1900. ...
Hardwood, Pine
$653
H 3.25 in W 20 in D 20 in
Fine Vintage Large French Polished Santos Mahogany Satinwood Folding Chess Set
Located in Dublin, Ireland
A Very Substantial Decorative French Polished Well Grained Dark Santos Mahogany and Boxwood Folding Chess Set of outstanding quality, good weight and s...
Mahogany
$795
H 2 in W 5.25 in D 4 in
Vintage Raymor Lidded Ceramic Flower Box Turquoise And White Italian, 1960's
By Raymor
Located in North Miami, FL
This lovely vintage Italian hallmarked lidded ceramic flower box by Raymor is from the 60's. The colors are turquoise, white with outlines of gray charcoal. The hallmarks read 03529 ...
Ceramic
Good Condition and Large Antique Display Box w. Beveled Glass Top
Located in Lisse, NL
Fine quality and condition, 1860s spoon box with a perfectly working silver lock and key. This handcrafted spoon box is another one of our recent great finds. It comes with beautif...
Velvet, Glass, Mirror, Wood
Large Gilt Bronze Feuille Box by Line Vautrin
By Line Vautrin
Located in Atlanta, GA
A large cast bronze powder box (poudrier) by French Parisian art jeweler Line Vautrin (1913-1997) circa 1945-1950. The box called "Feuille" (Leaf) features an irregular leaf form wit...
Bronze
Post World War II South African Hebrew Inscribed Metal School Supply Box
Located in New York, NY
Metal school supply box sent by the South Africa Jewish Wars Appeal to the Wels displaced persons (DP) camp in Austria, 1947. Painted blue and white with th...
Metal
English 19th Century Domed Top Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
Located in Atlanta, GA
English 19th Century Domed Top Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy with Silver Inlay and Ball feet
Tortoise Shell
Fabergé Style Bejewelled and Enamelled Gold Egg by Asprey
By Garrard & Co. Ltd., Asprey International Limited
Located in London, GB
This exceptional, 18 carat gold Easter egg was crafted by the famous London-based royal jewellers, Asprey & Co. The piece was then retailed by Garrard & Co, who once worked in collaboration with Asprey, producing luxury jewellery and silver for an elite clientele. The egg has been crafted from gold filigree — that is, gold wires interwoven to make a delicate lace-like pattern. The gold is arranged to form the image of a peacock, with a magnificent fanned train, composed of red, dark blue and green coloured plique-à-jour enamel. The light blue body of the peacock, and its long swirling light and dark blue tail feathers, have been crafted from intricate guilloché enamel, which is often found on Fabergé style eggs...
Gold
Vintage Decorative Shell Covered Box
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This vintage trinket box is built in a heart-shaped silhouette and lavishly encrusted with a curated mosaic of natural seashells. The rounded base tier is edged with rows of small wh...
Shell, Fabric
Large French Silvered Bronze Box Line Vautrin
By Line Vautrin
Located in Atlanta, GA
A silvered bronze poudrier box "Ammonite" by French Parisian art jeweler Line Vautrin (1913-1997). In the 1940s, Line Vautrin designed a series that was inspired by the shape of na...
Bronze
Antique Italian Silver Mesh Handbag, Beaux Arts Style, 1870
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
G/409 - Antique, perfect, rare Italian evening handbag in silver mesh. What's better for a beautiful present ?
Silver
$960Sale Price|20% Off
H 2.63 in W 6.38 in D 3.5 in
Bronze Jewelry Box Ancient Sarcophagus Reliefs Greek Roman Caesar Gladiator
By Line Vautrin
Located in Hyattsville, MD
A wonderful heavy cast bronze, hinged/lidded box, lightly polished, and glowing. Depicting ancient relief scenes / characters of Ancient Roman or Greek...
Bronze
Antique mid 19th Century Rosewood tea caddy
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a 19th century handmade Rosewood tea caddy. This tea caddy has his original glass disposable in the center with two compartments on either side. The tea caddy stands on four ...
Wood
Music Play Box, Around 1960s, Made in Switzerland
Located in Wien, Au
Music play box, around 1960s, made in Switzerland. Wood inlays. Plays " Love story " Music Hight when open: 19cm.
Wood
Sold
H 4 in W 23.75 in D 12 in
Antique Oversized Hand-Carved Incolay Stone Classical Cameo Jewelry Box
Located in Big Flats, NY
Antique oversized jewelry box features hand-carved incolay stone construction with four reserves with full length portrait cameos of Classical women, int...
Stone