Classical Roman 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.
Style: Classical Roman
Color: Gray
21st Century Studio Irvine Betti Concrete Stool in Fir Green Cement Handmade
Located in Rome, Lazio
Surrealism, primitivism, metaphysics and brutalism. Art together with architecture and design build a scenario of inspirations and continuous references through which the material ri...
Category
2010s Italian Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Concrete, Metal
An 18th century or earlier statuary marble head of Venus
Located in London, GB
A large 18th century or earlier statuary marble head of Venus, goddess of Love. Life-size and beautifully carved with superb detail to her hair & face. Probably Italian and an early ...
Category
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Marble
Giò Ponti La Conversazione Classica
By Gio Ponti
Located in Weesp, NL
Are you looking for a unique and timeless addition to your home or business? Look no further than these 10 exquisite ceramic tiles designed by the legendary Gio Ponti for Bardelli Ceramica Italy...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic
Terracotta Bust of Roman Emperor
Located in Palm Desert, CA
This terra-cotta sculpture no doubt depicts the bust of Roman Emperor or Senator in classical dress gazing over his left shoulder. This is a magnificently robust life size bust...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta
Porcelain "Ariadne Riding a Panther", After Johann Heinrich von Dannecker
By Johann Heinrich von Dannecker 1
Located in Palm Desert, CA
An exquisite porcelain figural sculpture depicting a nude woman with Classical Greco / Roman features reclining atop of a panther. The woman flaunts an intricate updo that was very p...
Category
1870s German Antique Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
Terra-Cotta Bust of a Roman Senator
Located in Palm Desert, CA
This terracotta sculpture depicts the bust of a Roman Senator or Emperor in armor and a gown. Hi gaze is directed at about a 45 degree angle. This is a magnificently robust life size bust...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta
Large Antique Marble Bust of Apollo of Belvedere, 19th Century
Located in Rochester, NY
Antique bust of Apollo of Belvedere. Finely carved carrara marble. Mid-19th century. Italian.
Presented by Joseph Dasta Antiques
# nude male greek roman mercury statue...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Stone, Marble, Carrara Marble
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 Sculptures
Materials
Plaster
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 Sculptures
Materials
Plaster
Roman Antique Marble Sculpture, 2nd Century Ad, South of France
Located in Girona, Spain
Roman Antique marble sculpture, 2nd century AD, South of France.
This sculpture is a Roman Antiquity.
Frontal section of a Roman Sarcophagus.
Made...
Category
15th Century and Earlier French Antique Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Marble, Iron
Marble Statue
Located in Tyrone, Northern Ireland
A large (almost life-sized) antique Carrara marble statue of a Roman legionary. Dressed in typical Roman soldier costume and with sword and shield in ...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Carrara Marble
Porcelain Figurine of Mother and Childrens, Hand Painted, 18th Century, Meissen
Located in Lantau, HK
A figurine of a mother and two children, the girl playing the flute
German, Meissen, mid-18th century, marked for Meissen,
porcelain, Germany with double crossed swords in under-glaz...
Category
Mid-18th Century German Antique Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
Bisque Porcelain Couple with Grapes, 19th Century French Sèvres
Located in Lantau, HK
A 19th century French Sèvres biscuit porcelain figurine of a couple seated in the garden. The gentleman is feeding grapes to the lady, whose l...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Carrara Marble
Early 20th Century Life-Size Plaster Statue Attributed to Jean Rene Gauguin
Located in Essex, MA
Attributed to Jean Rene Gauguin (French-danish, 1881-1961), the discus thrower Copenhagen, Circa 1926-1927
A lifesize sculpted and painted plaster ...
Category
Early 20th Century Danish Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Plaster
Large Antique Sculpted Marble Figure of Caesar Augustus
Located in London, GB
Large antique sculpted marble figure of Caesar Augustus
Italian, early 20th century
Measures: Height 186cm, width 118cm, depth 44cm
Known as the ‘Augustus of Prima Porta,’ the o...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Marble
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 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 Sculptures
Materials
Marble
1990s Bust of Roman Hand Carved using Different Carrara and Alicante Marbles
Located in Marbella, ES
1990s bust of a Roman, hand carved by craftsmen using Carrara white marble for the head, Arabescato for the main toga body and Alicante red for the arms, where the veining provide re...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Marble
Wonderful Midcentury Made Art Deco Style Carved Alabaster Column Pedestal Stand
Located in Lisse, NL
Wonderfully stylish and perfectly hand carved alabaster column for displaying a work of art.
This beautiful and classical pedestal on its oc...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Alabaster
Pair of 19th Century Cast Lead Cupids from a Municipal Fountain
By Fiske Or Mott
Located in New York, NY
Stunning pair of cast lead cupids, originally part of a grand public fountain, now destroyed. The seated cupids hold a wine goblet in one hand, and a cluster of grapes on the other. ...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Lead
Large Marble Grouping of "Cupid and Psyche" after A. Canova, Signed C. Lapini
Located in New York, NY
A magnificent and large carved Italian Carrara marble grouping of "Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss", Modeled After Antonio Canova, signed Cesare Lapini. The subjects are shown to be m...
Category
1870s Italian Antique Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Marble
1990s Bust of Roman General Hand Carved in Carrara White and Alicante Red Marble
Located in Marbella, ES
1990s bust of a Roman general, hand carved by craftsmen using Carrara white marble for the head and Alicante red for the toga, where the white and red contrast give movement and real...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Marble
Life-Size Carved Marble Allegorical sculpture of Hope
Located in Dallas, TX
Life-size carved marble allegorical sculpture of hope
circa 1900, unsigned, the woman wearing a Roman style gown and depicted perched on a cra...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Carrara Marble
Pair of Antique Garden Lions
Located in Sheffield, MA
The pair of French hand-carved antique garden stone lions are crouching and are made of stone.
The dimensions are for the slightly larger of th...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Stone
Large & Stunning Early 1900s Roman Classical Alabaster Column Pedestal Stand
Located in Lisse, NL
Wonderful antique column for displaying a work of art.
This beautiful and classical pedestal is perfect for showcasing an antique sculpture or bust. The slight wear, the shape and t...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Alabaster
Antique Stone Lion Mask Pedestal
Located in Sheffield, MA
19th century English Romanesque antique stone pedestal has protruding lion mask carved on pedestal.
Base measurement: 9.25" x 9.25"
Top meas...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Stone
Italian Marble Sculpture of a Dog, Circa 1900
Located in Nantucket, MA
The antique sculpture portrays a mastiff, sitting upright in an attentive pose with ears cocked, head canted, and mouth open. Hand carved from a block of green marble, unsigned. The...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Marble
17th Century Italian Carrara Marble Bust of Classical Roman
Located in Houston, TX
17th century Italian carrara marble bust of a Classical Roman.
Finely carved Classical Roman carrara marble bust sculpture from the 17th c...
Category
17th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Marble
Well-Carved Pair of Italian Romanesque Style Gray Painted Wooden Masks now Lamps
Located in San Francisco, CA
A well-carved and stylized pair of Italian Romanesque style gray painted wooden masks now mounted as lamps; each bearded face surrounded by thick curl...
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Classical Roman Sculptures
Life Size 19th Century Italian White Marble Sculpture Titled "The Wrestlers"
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This exceptional 19th century Italian hand carved marble group titled: 'The Wrestlers' was carved after a Greek original of the 3rd century BCE.
This impressive statue depicts two na...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Carrara Marble
Italian Carved Marble Bust of Eros . Circa 1820
Located in Hollywood, SC
Italian hand carved marble bust of Eros with cloak & quivers. Eros signifies the god of love. Early 19th Century
Category
1820s Italian Antique Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Marble
Marble Bust by William Theed the Younger
Located in London, GB
Portrait bust in statuary marble. Ex Browne-Swinburne, Capheaton Hall, Northumberland.
Signed and dated, 1830
William Theed, t...
Signed and dated, 1830
William Theed, t...
Category
19th Century British Antique Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Statuary Marble
1990s Bust of Greek Amazon Warrior Hand Carved in Carrara White Marble
Located in Marbella, ES
1990s bust of a Green Amazon, hand carved by craftsmen using Carrara white marble. The Amazons were a tribe of women warriors in Greek and Roman mythology...
Category
Late 20th Century European Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Marble
Classical Roman sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Classical Roman 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 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 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 sculptures, popular names associated with this style include Europa Antiques, LAGU, F. Barbedienne Foundry, and Massimo Marcomini. 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 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 $3,210.