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.
Vintage Armillary Sphere on a Marble Veneer Base
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Astronomic vintage armillary sphere crafted in cast aluminum with a patinated bronze finish in classic celestial form held up by Atlas mounted on a sienna marble veneer stone base.
Aluminum, Bronze
French Caen Stone Architectural Fragment
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A mid 19th century French Caen stone architectural fragment reputedly from a church destroyed in WWII. With its beautiful cream tone and cr...
Stone, Limestone
Large 19th Century classical bronze torches
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A large and impressive 19th Century classical patinated bronze maiden torche, raised on a pedestal plinth. In the manner of Barbedienne. Batch 75 SNTKZ
Bronze
Pair classical bronze statues of children gathering grapes, 19th Century.
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive pair of 19th Century French patinated bronze putti, each gathering up grapes and raised on variegated green marble plinths, circa 1880. Batch 80 N/H
Bronze
Porcelain & Ceramic Sculptural Vase Italy Contemporary, 21st Century
Located in London, GB
"TuttiTappi (Venus doppelgänger)", 2016, glazed earthenware and porcelain, measures: H 27 x 15 x 15cm Andrea Salvatori (Italy, 1975) is an internationally renowned visual artist w...
Ceramic, Porcelain
Ceramic Sculptural Ring by Andrea Salvatori Contemporary 21st Century, Art Jewel
Located in London, GB
"Ring Grace", unique piece, 2017 glazed earthenware A Ring Thing collection A small chair, a miniature moon, a Philipp Stark's squeezer or the anatomical details of Michelangelo’...
Ceramic, Earthenware
Large Solid Marble Decorative Sphere on Bronze Griffin Base
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful large solid green marble decorative sphere on bronze base with three griffins, circa 1970s. The piece is in very good condition with no chips or cracks; it has a nice polis...
Marble, Bronze
$3,400Sale Price|20% Off
H 22 in W 13 in D 4 in
Wood Collage Multicolor Sculptural, 21st Century by Mattia Biagi
By Mattia Biagi
Located in Culver City, CA
After having been printed and attached on wood, the images are cut out and assembled onto a Classic furniture form. This anthology of memories, visions, and experiences allows Biagi ...
Cement, Metal
Bronze Panther on Marble Base
Located in Annville, PA
Graceful even when standing still the Bronze Panther on Marble Base is a striking addition to any setting. Using traditional lost wax casting methods the Bronze Panther is created in...
Bronze
Bronze Sparrow on Marble Base
Located in Annville, PA
Graceful even when standing still the Bronze Sparrow on Marble Base is a striking addition to any setting. Using traditional lost wax casting methods th...
Bronze
$1,515 / item
H 11.82 in Dm 3.94 in
21st Century Karim Rashid Queen Vase Murano Glass Honey and Oriental Red
Located in Brembate di Sopra (BG), IT
21st century Karim Rashid Queen vase Murano glass various Amber base blue top Queen designed by Karim Rashid is a curvaceous vase that combine regality with visual wit. Proposed in ...
Murano Glass
Vintage Solid Cast Bronze Rhino Sculpture on Marble Base
Located in North Palm Beach, FL
Commanding attention with its powerful presence, this vintage solid cast bronze rhinoceros sculpture is a testament to the enduring appeal of animalier art. Expertly rendered with re...
Marble, Bronze
Sculptural Ceramic Vase
Located in Antwerp, BE
A monumental shaped ceramic vase in various beautiful colors and patterns. Measures: Height 43 cm.
Ceramic
19th Century Bronze Statue of Bartolomeo Colleoni
Located in Esbeek, NL
This patinated bronze statue is after the original Renaissance sculpture which was executed by Andrea del Verrocchio in 1480–1488, in Italy. Exac...
Bronze
19th Century Italian Classical Marble Bust of Venus Chiurazzi
Located in New York, NY
Psyche of Capua. White marble bust of Venus, after antique. Italy, late 19th century. Inscribed, 'Chiurazzi.' Measures: 21 in. (53.3 cm) height.
Carrara Marble
$1,800Sale Price|23% Off
H 17 in W 7 in D 6.5 in
Italian Venus of Capua Patinated Bronze, 19th Century
Located in Astoria, NY
After the Antique Venus of Capua Patinated Bronze Sculpture, 19th century, possibly cast by Chiurazzi, the standing draped figure with outstretched arm, with a foot resting on a helm...
Bronze
21st Century Karim Rashid King Vase Murano Glass Various Colors
Located in Brembate di Sopra (BG), IT
21st century Karim Rashid king vase Murano glass various colors. King designed by Karim Rashid is a curvaceous vase that combine regality with visual wit. Proposed in combination wi...
Murano Glass
Bronze Elk on Marble Base
Located in Annville, PA
Graceful even when standing still the Bronze Elk on Marble Base is a striking addition to any setting. Using traditional lost wax casting methods the Bronze Elk statue...
Bronze
Sold
H 19 in W 13 in D 12 in
Weathered Abstract Stone Torso Sculpture – Primitive Modernist Garden Figure
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This captivating stone torso sculpture presents a raw and timeless interpretation of the human form, blending elements of primitive art and modernist abstraction. Skillfully shaped f...
Stone
Sold
H 25.79 in W 7.49 in D 5.12 in
Hera, a clear, grey & black figurative glass sculpture by Cathryn Shilling
Located in London, GB
'Hera' is a unique glass sculpture by the British artist Cathryn Shilling. The interior figure is free-blown glass which is wrapped in kiln-formed glass cane 'fabric' which is applied hot. With her Cloaked Collection, Shilling takes mythical tragic figures as her inspiration. Blown forms are wrapped in glass cane 'cloaks' which mimic cloth, following the contours of the form below. In the artist's own words; "Cloaked are large figurative pieces that are the culmination of the development of ideas and processes made over a long period of time. The process of slow, considered exploration of the material cold and rigid in the studio. The technical exploration of hot glass processes requiring quick judgements in order to create a form, drawn from observation. And the process of resolution, so by bringing these elements together, produces something that is greater than the sum of the parts. These pieces stand tall like a character in a play, conveying the essence of inevitable tragedy to be found in life, love, war and death". Cathryn Shilling began her arts career as a graphic designer but went on to study glass after moving to Connecticut with her family. On returning to the UK she studied kiln formed glass at Kensington and Chelsea College and blown glass with Peter Layton at the London Glassblowing Workshop. She set up studio in London in 2007 from where she has gone on to create a huge body and variety of work. Shilling experiments with colour and technique to produce beautiful one off sculptures. Her innovative pieces push the glass beyond our usual comfort zones. With some sculptures, glass rods are woven together like fabric, mimicking the flexibility and movement of cloth. The apparent frailty of the glass is balanced by the strong dynamic forms, differing levels of light picking out layers of colour. With other works, bubbles are trapped in swathes of watery hues. Her colour palette and choice of forms are very much informed by the various natural states in which water is found: icebergs, waterfalls and whirlpools for example. Shilling’s work has been collected and widely exhibited internationally including: Ireland Glass Biennale 2019 at Dublin Castle...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass
Sold
H 24.81 in W 7.88 in D 5.52 in
Diomedes, a clear, cream & taup / camel Glass Sculpture by Cathryn Shilling
Located in London, GB
'Diomedes' is a unique glass sculpture by the British artist Cathryn Shilling. The interior figure is free-blown glass which is wrapped in kiln-formed glass cane 'fabric' which is ap...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass
Sold
H 26.78 in W 7.09 in D 5.52 in
Hephaestus, a clear & grey glass figurative sculpture by Cathryn Shilling
Located in London, GB
'Hephaestus' is a unique glass sculpture by the British artist Cathryn Shilling. The interior figure is free-blown glass which is wrapped in kiln-formed glass cane 'fabric' which is ...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass
Sold
H 23.63 in W 6.7 in D 6.3 in
Electra, a Clear & Grey Classical Greek Inspired Sculpture by Cathryn Shilling
Located in London, GB
'Electra' is a unique glass sculpture by the British artist Cathryn Shilling. The interior figure is free-blown glass which is wrapped in kiln-formed glass cane 'fabric' which is app...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass
Sold
H 25.6 in W 7.09 in D 5.12 in
Ares, a black, white & grey figurative glass sculpture by Cathryn Shilling
Located in London, GB
'Ares' is a unique glass sculpture by the British artist Cathryn Shilling. The interior figure is free-blown glass which is wrapped in kiln-formed glass cane 'fabric' which is applie...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass
20th Century Academic Study Plaster Hand Sculpture
Located in Houston, TX
20th century Academic study plaster hand sculpture. Monumental 20th century academic study plaster hand sculpture. A stunning coffee table acce...
Plaster
Superb Ancient Greek Silver Stater Coin from Kaulonia, 525 BC
Located in London, GB
A masterpiece of late archaic art. Silver stater from Kaulonia, Bruttium, circa 525-500 BC. The obverse with a nude cult statue of Apollo, wearing di...
Silver
Jose Pinal Hand-Carved Tragedy and Comedy Drama Mask Set
By Jose Pinal
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Hand-carved Tragedy and Comedy drama theatre mask set by Mexican artist Jose Pinal. Signed "J. Pinal".
Wood