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.
Ilias Lalaounis Sterling Silver and Bronze "Barley" Metapontum Coin Paperweight
By Lalaounis
Located in New York, NY
Ilias Lalaounis sterling silver and bronze "Barley" paperweight after an ancient coin of Metapontum 5th Century B.C. in its original box and documentation 20th Century Marks: Lalaoun...
Sterling Silver, Bronze
Antique God Atlas Sterling Silver Figural Wax Seal Stamper. German 19-Century.
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Antique God Atlas Sterling Silver Figural Wax Seal Stamper. Rara Antique, circa 1850, wax seal stamp. Moldelled as the God Atlas (Greek Mythology). The globe rotates. Museum quality...
Silver, Sterling Silver
19th Century Bronze Figural Novelty Wax Stamp
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
19th century bronze figural novelty wax stamp. Shipping within the United States and Canada is free.
Edwardian Glass and Sterling Silver Match Striker / Paperweight
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive, antique Edwardian English glass and sterling silver match striker; an addition to our ornamental collection. This exceptional antique Edwardian sterling silver and glass match striker has a globular form. The surface of the glass body is embellished with a serrated texture which composes a match striker. The upper portion of this example of antique silverware retains the original, plain hallmarked sterling silver mount which continues to line the match receiver; this solid silver lining indicates the high quality of the piece. By virtue of its size and weight, this versatile match striker could be utilised as a paperweight. Condition This antique 20th century match striker glass match holder...
Sterling Silver
Big Silvered Bronze Vienna Dog Sculpture, Paperweight, 1900s
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Big silvered bronze Vienna dog sculpture, 1900s. Very good detailed silvered bronze dog sculpture. Perfect as desk paperweight. We have specialized in the ...
Bronze
$580 / set
H 2.88 in W 9.63 in D 10.38 in
Antique Art Nouveau Silver Inkwell, Letter Opener, Dip Pen and Seal Set, in Box
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic early 1900s travel set or desktop accessories inkwell, dip pen, letter opener and seal. Made of silver (marked 800) and crystal glass. Nice additio...
Crystal, Silver
1913 René Lalique - Seal Stamp Pigeons Glass With Grey Patina
By René Lalique
Located in Boulogne Billancourt, FR
Seal Stamped "Pigeons" made in frosted glass with a grey patina in 1913. Engraved signature. Perfect condition. Beautiful patina. Extremely rare model. Height: 9.8 cm. Félix Marci...
Blown Glass
$425
H 1.4 in Dm 4.1 in
John Hardy sterling silver and coconut wood desk/table pen holder/paperweight .
By John Hardy
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful sterling silver and coconut wood paperweight/ pen holder .
Sterling Silver
$595
H 1.04 in W 2.2 in D 2.06 in
Vintage Greek Lalaounis Sterling Silver Figural Scallop Sea Shell Paperweight
By Lalaounis
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine signed Greek silver paperweight. By Lalounis. In sterling silver. In the form of a scallop or cockle sea shell. Marked to the base. Simply a wonderful Lalaounis shell...
Sterling Silver
Victorian Glass and Sterling Silver Match Striker / Paperweight
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver and glass match striker; an addition to our ornamental collection. This exceptional antique silver and glass match striker has a globular form. The surface of the glass body is embellished with a serrated texture which composes a match striker. The ornamentation to the glass body is segmented with plain subtly concave vertical flutes. The upper portion of this antique glass match striker...
Sterling Silver
$2,914
H 3.75 in Dm 0.04 in
1920 René Lalique - Seal Stamp Figurine Mains Jointes Glass With Sepia Patina
By René Lalique
Located in Boulogne Billancourt, FR
Seal Stamped "Figurine Mains Jointes" made in frosted glass with a sepia patina in 1920. Engraved signature. Perfect condition. Beautiful patina. Extremely rare model. Height: 9.5 ...
Blown Glass
1920 René Lalique - Seal Stamp Victoire Frosted Glass With Blue Patina
By René Lalique
Located in Boulogne Billancourt, FR
Stamp Seal "Victoire" made in frosted glass with blue patinat by René Lalique in 1920. Molded and engraved signature Perfect condition. height: 4.5 cm Félix Marcilhac, René Laliqu...
Blown Glass
Tiffany & Co. Figural Sterling Silver Clothes Pin Desk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine, figural silver paper clip. By Tiffany & Co. In sterling silver. In the form of an old-fashioned clothes pin. Marked to the base 'Tiffany & Co' and 'Sterling' to the other...
Silver
Antique Glass and Sterling Silver Match Striker / Paperweight
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique George V English sterling silver and glass match striker; an addition to our ornamental collection. This exceptional antique glass and silver match striker...
Sterling Silver