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.
Rococo Style Gilt Bronze and Marble Satyr Figurals Mantel Clock
Located in Germantown, MD
A clean Rococo-style gilt bronze figural mantel clock. The clock is a late 19th-century piece, featuring cherubs / satyrs. The style is characterized by elaborate scrollwork, foliag...
Marble, Metal, Bronze, Ormolu
French 19th Century Clock Set with Roman Centurion and Candelabra
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality 19th century French gilded ormolu and green marble clock garniture. Having a pair of four branch candelabra with classical busts to t...
Marble, Ormolu
Renaissance Style Gilt Bronze and Enamel Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
Renaissance style gilt bronze and enamel mantel clock French, late 19th century Measures: Height 53cm, width 28cm, depth 23cm This exquisite mantel clock is crafted in the idios...
Ormolu, Bronze, Enamel
19th Century French Cathedral Clock
Located in High Point, NC
19th century beautifully hand crafter cathedral clock in gilt bronze. This is a magnificent example of 19th century French craftsmanship. There are many beautiful details to this p...
Bronze
$28,500 / set
H 29 in W 19.13 in D 9.75 in
A French 19th C. Louis XV Style Ormolu Cherub Clock & Candelabra Garniture Set
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An Assembled Very Fine French 19th Century Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze and White Marble Figural Mantel Clock and Candelabra Garniture Set. The finely chased ormolu clock body, with it...
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century French Bronze and Ormolu Clock
By Claude Galle
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
19th Century French Bronze and Ormolu Clock. circa 1810 clock Napoleonic Empire Bronze Dore. La Liseuse" clock after Reiche, by Claude Galle & Grand Girad. Signed in Paris
Bronze
$18,950 / set
H 22.13 in W 7.25 in D 9 in
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Marble & Ormolu Lyre Clock & Candelabra Set
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Very Fine French Late 19th Century Louis XVI Style White Marble and Ormolu 'Lyre' Clock Garniture Set. The lyre-shaped white marble clock is mounted with finely chased ormolu throu...
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Sèvres Style Gilt Bronze and Porcelain Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
This Sèvres style clock is an elegant piece of late 19th century design, which will make a wonderful addition to a mantelpiece. It has been beautifully cast in bronze and gilded (orm...
Ormolu, Bronze
Sèvres Style Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in London, GB
This beautiful mantel clock has been designed in an 18th century Rococo style, which was popularised by the Sèvres Porcelain Manufactory. The clock has been expertly cast in bronze a...
Ormolu, Bronze
French Empire Figural Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock
Located in New York, NY
Winged cupid with flowing robe, clock resting between wings and fabric, raised on bronze ormolu-mounted verde antico plinth. France, first half of the 19th century. Measures: H ...
Marble, Bronze, Enamel
$62,346
H 32.29 in W 10.24 in D 10.24 in
Large Neoclassical Style Marble and Gilt Bronze Circular Movement Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
Large neoclassical style marble and gilt bronze circular movement mantel clock French, late 19th century Measures: Height 82cm, width 26cm, depth 26cm Crafted from the finest of materials, including beautiful white marble, gilt bronze, and patinated bronze, this unusually large mantel clock is a superb piece of neoclassical design. The clock features a white marble vase-shaped case, which houses its circular movement. The vase is set above a plinth form base, which is inset with gilt bronze relief panels...
Marble, Ormolu, Bronze
Fine Quality Louis XV-Style Gilt Bronze Figural Mantel Clock
Located in New York, NY
The 8-day time and strike movement with silk thread suspension, dial signed "Raingo Freres, A Paris”. Origin: French Date: Mid/late 19th century Dimension: 23 in. x 27 in. x 12 in.
Bronze
$6,234
H 17.72 in W 12.6 in D 5.91 in
Rococo Style Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock with Sèvres Style Porcelain Plaques
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in London, GB
Rococo style gilt bronze mantel clock with Sèvres style porcelain plaques French, late 19th Century Measures: Height 45cm, width 32cm, depth 15cm This fine mantel clock is a cha...
Ormolu, Bronze
$4,690
H 23.75 in W 12.5 in D 12.5 in
A French 19th-20th Century Gilt-Metal 3-Piece Clock and Candelabra Garniture Set
By Japy Frères
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A French 19th-20th Century Gilt-Metal Three-Piece Clock and Candelabra Garniture Set in a Chippendale-Arabesque flavor. The urn shaped clock with a scalloped body flanked by lion mas...
Metal
Sold
H 15 in W 7.5 in D 3 in
Italian Ornate Mantel Clock with Two Figural Cherub Candelabras - Garniture Set
By Hermle
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Italian Roman Style Ornate Mantel Clock with Two Figural Cherub Candelabras - Garniture Set The Vintage Italian Roman Style Ornate Mantel ...
Brass
Vintage Mid-19th Century French Empire Figural Clock
Located in Bronx, NY
This vintage, circa 1855, French Empire mantel clock is designed with a doré bronze mythological subject upon a footed white marble and gilt bronze platform. The mounted bronze sculp...
Bronze, Enamel
Rare Large Cartier Mantle Clock
By Cartier
Located in Dallas, TX
Expert craftsmanship! A rare and important Cartier mantle or desk clock of heavy gilt gold bronze with a polished Lapis Lazuli cobalt blue and yellow gold inclusions. Of classical carriage decorative design with columns and a Greek winged eye touch. Roman numerals and chiseled incised hands and face. This clock is extraordinarily heavy, very solid, tight and works perfectly. This is a bit of a Cartier mystery clock...
Bronze