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Classical Roman Figurative Sculptures

CLASSICAL ROMAN STYLE

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.

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Style: Classical Roman
Period: Mid-20th Century
Vintage Souvenir Roman Sun Dial 200 AD Fan Shaped Lions Head Made in Italy 12"
Located in Dayton, OH
Mid 20th century sounvenir reproduction of an ancient Roman sun dial. Fan shaped metal dial plate, decoratively aged, with etched / gilded rays and Roman numerals indicating the hour...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Classical Roman Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Metal

Italian Glazed Ceramic Bust of a Classical Roman by Santa Monica
Located in Houston, TX
Italian glazed ceramic bust of a Classical Roman by Santa Monica. Italian ceramic bust of a Classical Roman with unusual iridescent glaze, marked Santa M...
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Classical Roman Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

French Porcelain Bust of Classical Male
Located in Houston, TX
French porcelain bust of a classical male. This vintage French porcelain bust sculpture is mounted on a marble base and dates to the 1940s. ...
Category

1940s French Vintage Classical Roman Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Marble

Bacchus, Plaster Statue, France, circa 1930
Located in Paris, FR
Beautiful old plaster statue, in the neoclassical spirit, representing young Bacchus. France, National Museums molding workshop, circa 1930.
Category

1930s French Vintage Classical Roman Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Plaster

Neoclassical Romanesque Bronze Female Form Sculptures with Marble Bases
Located in Dallas, TX
Gorgeous pair of antique golden cast bronze roman women on newly fabricated marble bases. They are hollow and the water jugs are open so they can be used to display an arrangement wi...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Classical Roman Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Large Roman Neoclassical Plaster Foot of Hercules
Located in Houston, TX
Unusually large and well detailed neoclassical Roman plaster foot sculpture of Hercules. This vintage Italian academic plaster foot sculpture wo...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Classical Roman Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Plaster

Italian Roman Sculpture of the 'David'
Located in New York, NY
A Classic Italian Roman statue of the 'David' by sculptor G. Ruggeri, circa mid-20th century, Italy. With maker's mark's and marked 'Italy' as show in im...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Classical Roman Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Resin

Craved Rock Crystal Figure of Venus, 20th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A beautiful carved and polished small rock crystal figure of Venus, probably Italy, carved after the antique, early to mid-20th century. The nak...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Classical Roman Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Rock Crystal

Classic Italian Roman Sculpture of the 'David' on Black Marble Base
Located in New York, NY
A Mid-20th century classic Italian Roman statue of the 'David' on a black marble base by sculptor G. Ruggeri, Italy. White resin statue is on a black marble base with tan veins. With...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Classical Roman Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Marble

Icarus Statue on Stone Fragment
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Well rendered depiction of Icarus, in brown stained terracotta on an angular stone base. Statue is signed but it is difficult to interpret the signature. It appears to be "Faffa Ales...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Classical Roman Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Stone

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Bronze Lying Female Nude Sculpture
Located in Antwerp, BE
Created by Belgian sculptor Leo De Boey. In perfect original state.   
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1930s French Plaster Wall Relief
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Pair of Gilt Bronze Grand Tour Urns on Marble Bases
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Pair Brass Sculptures on Marble Bases
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Lladró Hercules Beetle Figurine by José Luis Santes
Located in New York City, NY
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Large Lion's Head Sculpture
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
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Coppia di busti in Ceramica chiara- G. Cesare e Adriano imperatori-made in Italy
Located in Tarquinia, IT
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Category

Early 2000s European Classical Roman Figurative Sculptures

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Himba child head carved on red sandstone -made in Italy
Located in Tarquinia, IT
sandstone sculpture, himba sculpture, red sandstone sculpture, Italian art handmade small Himba sculpture on red sandstone rock, attached on base. dimensions h 35 x 16 x 22 cm weigh...
Category

Early 2000s Italian Classical Roman Figurative Sculptures

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The Black Road: Iron, Classical Male Bust, Resin Sculpture with Rust Iron Patina
Located in Chicago, IL
This extraordinary sculptural portrait head takes its beginnings from classical antiquity. Attention to detail and complete understanding of the human figure are evident. The sculpture, which is made of resin and patinaed with a rusted iron can be shown on a base or lying down. Dean Kugler The Black Road: Iron, 2021 Resin and Iron Patina 20h x 16w in 60.96h x 40.64w cm DK0041 Dean Kugler is a seasoned interdisciplinary artist, painter, and figurative sculptor. His 3D work is featured primarily at Gallery Victor Armendariz in Chicago. In the last three years, Dean has also been featured at Abend Gallery in Denver, The Figge Art Museum, and Bereskin Gallery in Iowa. He has shown at SOFA Chicago in 2017, 2018, and 2019 and participated in ArtPrize in 2013, 2014, and 2015. He sees himself primarily as a sculptor due to the challenges he finds and thrives on within the process. In all its beauty, crudeness, and subtleties, the figure offers infinite opportunities to express feelings and emotions. There is also a physicality to sculpture that requires the work to be experienced through movement in order to reveal more about the piece. Dean has always been drawn to the interactive nature of large-scale sculpture that is available to the public - he loves the idea that his work entices the observer to go beyond what they can see and add tactility to the experience. By using both realism and abstraction, he creates a visual that challenges the viewer to resolve what they are seeing. Therefore, providing a greater connection between the artist and the viewer. Education 1993 – AA from Blackhawk College. 1995 – BFA from Western Illinois University. Texts 1995 – “Drawing: Skills, Means, Freedom”. Jan Clough / Ann Mullin. pub. 1995. 1993 – “Images” College publication featuring multiple pieces. 1992 – “Images” College publication featuring multiple pieces. Bibliography Dec 2022 - American Art Collector. “Room to grow”. Pages 48 and 49. 1 Oct 2018 – River Cities Reader. Article discussing a group show titled “Earth, Wind, and Fire” at Bereskin Gallery. 18 Aug 2018 – River Cities Reader. Article by Mike Schulz about my show titled “Relic” at the Quad City Arts. 1 Nov 2017 – Dispatch-Argus and QCOnline, Coverage of my showing at SOFA. 16 Dec 2016 – River Cities Reader. Article by Rick Martin about one-man art show titled “It Figures” at Black Hawk College. 22 June 2016 – Dispatch-Argus. Coverage of my one-man show titled “Animal Farm.” 22 Sept 2015 – Quad-City Times. “Body of work”. Article by David Burke about a one-man art show at Black Hawk College. 30 October 2014 – WVIK radio and online. Coverage of the ribbon-cutting for “Gravity” installation at the Rivercenter in Davenport, IA. 28 Sept 2014 – TV interview on WZZM13 in Grand Rapids covering ARTPRIZE and my sculpture, Gravity at the Gerald Ford...
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Antique Neoclassical Plaster Grotesque Herm Statue
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
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Roman Marble Head of Sophocles
Located in London, GB
Roman Marble Head of Sophocles Circa 1st-2nd Century Marble This fine Roman marble head preserves the proper left side of the face of a middle-aged man, with broad nose, soft lips, and bearded chin. The short beard and sideburns have been finely carved with a flat chisel, to render the soft, wavy strands of hair. The cheekbone, undereye, and nasolabial folds have been delicately modelled in the marble by a skilled hand. In a letter from 1975, the former director of Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen, suggested that the head could depict the Ancient Greek tragedian Sophocles. Few figures in the Classical world stand aside Sophocles (c. 496-406 BC), inarguably the best known of the Athenian tragedians, in terms of the impact his works have had on the history of art and literature. The psychological depth he achieves in the seven of the 123 of his plays that have survived to the present day - most notably the three Theban plays: Antigone, Oedipus the King, and Oedipus at Colonus - not only inspired the Athenians, among whom Sophocles was honoured as a hero long after his death, but in our own time, have provoked landmark works on phychoanalysis and literary criticism, by thinkers like René Girard and, most famously, Sigmund Freud. In its masterful treatment of the marble this fragment sensitively captures the features of one of the most important playwrights of all time. Height on stand: 7.9 inches (20 cm). Provenance: Collection of Danish sculptor Jens Adolf Jerichau...
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15th Century and Earlier Antique Classical Roman Figurative Sculptures

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Marble

Roman Marble Head of Sophocles
Roman Marble Head of Sophocles
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H 6.3 in Dm 7.01 in
Previously Available Items
Mid century oversized Italian male nude plaster torso
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a mid century oversized male nude torso in plaster. This Italian plaster sculpture has a dark green patinated bronze finish to the surface. The sculpture rests on a gold gild...
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1960s Italian Vintage Classical Roman Figurative Sculptures

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After Giuseppe Bessi Basalt Sculpture of Augustus
Located in New York, NY
After Giuseppe Bessi (Italian, 1857-1922) basalt portrait bust after the antique of Caesar Augustus (Roman, 63 BCE-14 CE), signed in cast "Prof G. Bessi...
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Mid-20th Century Classical Roman Figurative Sculptures

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Parian Figurine, 'the Dying Gaul', Mid-20th Century
Located in Stockholm, SE
A parian figurine, 'The dying gaul', 20th century. This Classic statue is a copy of one of the Hellenistic bronze figures erected at Pergamon by King Attalos 1st (241-197 BCE) commem...
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Mid-20th Century European Classical Roman Figurative Sculptures

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Porcelain

Italian Marble Sculpture of the Three Graces from the 1940s
Located in Milano, MI
Marble sculpture and wooden base depicting the Three Graces, made in the 1940s Measures : Ø cm 4 Ø cm 19 h cm 22.
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Lovely Monumental Terracottta Sculpture of a Classical Reclining Woman
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Stunning and romantic terracotta figural sculpture of a classical beauty reclining partly disrobed on a chaise. Her pose and pretty face are serene and very sexy.
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Terracotta

Italian Terracotta Bust of a Classical Roman
Located in Houston, TX
Italian terracotta bust of a Classical Roman. This stunning Italian terra cotta bust sculpture of a Classical Roman male is mounted on a travertine base. This handsome bust would ...
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1940s Italian Vintage Classical Roman Figurative Sculptures

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Classic Roman Sculpture Bust of David by Ruggeri Italy
Located in Antwerp, BE
Classic Roman Bust on black marble base after the Statue of David in ivorine (faux-ivory celluloid) On black marble base. Signed Quirino Ruggeri, Italy, 1883-1955.
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Antique Classical Bronzed Plaster Portrait Sculpture of Caesar, circa 1930
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique classical portrait bust of Caesar offers bronzed cast plaster construction, circa 1930 Measures: 25.5" H x 16" W x 8.75" D.
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Bronze

Bronze Wall Mounted Hook of Medusa and Serpent in the Roman Style
Located in East Hampton, NY
A most unusual cast bronze wall hook with the face of Medusa and a scrolled snake with hook. Nice dark patina in great antique condition. Stamp impres...
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Pair of Midcentury Classical Women Sculptures
By A. Santini
Located in Norwood, NJ
A pair of midcentury classical women sculptures. Set of two female figural composition sculptures on attached bases. Both pieces are Signed A. Santini ...
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Mid-20th Century Italian Classical Roman Figurative Sculptures

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Pair of Midcentury Italian White Plaster Classic Roman Bust Sculptures
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful pair of mid-20th century Italian male and female classical Roman style bust statue sculptures. Pieces are plaster with a white overlay. B...
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Mid-20th Century Italian Classical Roman Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Plaster

Statue of Hercules
Located in Atlanta, GA
A very fine cast stone statue of Hercules wearing a lions pelt. On an original pedestal. Great quality. The pedestal is 30" H. base is 24" x 24" The...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Classical Roman Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Cast Stone

Statue of Hercules
Statue of Hercules
H 97.5 in Dm 24 in

Classical Roman figurative sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Classical Roman figurative sculptures for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage figurative sculptures created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, building and garden elements, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with stone, marble and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Classical Roman figurative sculptures made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and France pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original figurative sculptures, popular names associated with this style include Europa Antiques, LAGU, Massimo Marcomini, and Aristide Petrilli. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for figurative sculptures differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $60 and tops out at $150,000 while the average work can sell for $2,892.

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