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.
$558Sale Price|20% Off
Bronze Laurel Wreath
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Some years ago I found this bronze laurel wreath: I liked it, I bought and placed it on a beautiful marble head. ref. O/6843.
Bronze
Head of Hadrian carved on white Carrara marble -made in Italy
Located in Tarquinia, IT
Hadrian sculpture, Hadrian head sculpture, Sculpture, Male head, classical art, Greek art, Hadrian art, white Carrara marble, classical sculpture, Portrait head of Hadrian carved on...
Marble
$3,538Sale Price|20% Off
Large Imperial Black Porphyry specimen
Located in Bruxelles, BE
Rare and Large Imperial Black Porphyry architectural fragment partially polished, 23,5 x 15 x 12 cm Porfido Nero is a rare Black Variety of Imperial Porphyry from Gebel Dokhan (th...
Porphyry
$4,850
Cast Stone Corbels
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of Classical style figural cast stone corbels. Each depicting a child supporting a shepherds shelf with garland swags. Dimensions: Height 48", width...
Cast Stone
Coppia di busti in Ceramica chiara- G. Cesare e Adriano imperatori-made in Italy
Located in Tarquinia, IT
Giulio Cesare, Adriano busto, Scultura, busto imperatore, Busto Giulio Cesare, busto imperatore Augusto, busto romano antico, arte romana, arte classica, arte greca, busto, busto cre...
Ceramic
Antique Plaster Bust of Homer After Hellenistic Work of Antiquity
Located in Kent, CT
An antique plaster bust of Homer, modeled after a Hellenistic prototype from antiquity. The sculptural form captures the poet’s deeply set eyes, furrowed brow, and flowing beard with...
Plaster
Head Julius Caesar carved on white Carrara marble - made in Italy
Located in Tarquinia, IT
Julius Caesar sculpture, Caesar head sculpture, Sculpture, Male head, classical art, Greek art, Julius Caesar art , white Carrara marble, classical sculpture, Portrait head of Juliu...
Marble
18th Century Italian Roman Emperor Marble Bust
Located in New Orleans, LA
Beautiful, albeit heavily distressed stone bust depicting an authoritarian man on a pedestal. Softly colored grey stone with many details intact including draping on tunic, eyes, bea...
Stone, Marble
Julius Caesar bust in white Carrara marble
Located in Tarquinia, IT
Scultura, busto imperatore, busto Cesare, busto Giulio Cesare, busto romano antico, arte romana, arte classica, arte greca, busto, marmo bianco Carrara, scultura classica, marco Aure...
Marble
Grande Busto Caracalla scolpito su bellissimo marmo bianco (made in italy)
Located in Tarquinia, IT
Scultura, busto imperatore, busto Caracalla, busto marmo, busto romano antico, arte romana, arte classica, arte greca, busto, marmo bianco Carrara, scultur...
Marble
Pair of Early 20thC Hand Carved Carrara Marble Guardian Angels Praying
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Amazing pair of hand chisiled marble statues of kneeling guardian angels praying. Hand crafted in Italy from Carrara Marble in about the 1920s. These were kept in storage for a numbe...
Carrara Marble
$895 / set
Vintage Bronze Soilder Statue - Set of 2
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This pair of cast metal knight figures exudes old-world grandeur, each standing tall in intricately detailed armor with a raised flag bearing a heraldic crest. Their mirrored stances...
Metal
Antique Italian Micro-Mosaic Plaque Depicting the Pantheon in Rome
Located in London, GB
This exquisite antique Italian micro-mosaic plaque depicts the Piazza della Rotunda in Rome, with the Pantheon at its centre. The portrayal is particularly important, as it shows the...
Stone
White Carrara marble sculpture of Hannah and Samuel by F. Andrei. Inv. E.
Located in New York, NY
Depicting Hannah with draping robes holding Samuel in her left arm and placing a donation in a trunk with an engraved Menorah to its front, signed 'F. Andrei. Inv. E. Scolp. Roma 186...
Carrara Marble
Large Stone Bust of Julius Ceasar
Located in Swadlincote, GB
A very good stone bust of Julius Ceasar, hollow inside and in overall very good condition. 24" high 25" wiide 15" depth You are welcome to view this item at our showroom, please p...
Cast Stone
Bisque Porcelain Couple with Grapes, 19th Century French Sèvres
By Manufacture Nationale de 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...
Carrara Marble
Large 19th Century Neoclassical Renaissance Revival Grand Tour Tazza
Located in New York, NY
19th century continental Grand Tour tazza in the Renaissance style exhibiting the finest design and casting with magnificent details including the profile of a distinguished gentlema...
Bronze
Ancient Roman Head of Serapis in Alabaster
Located in BARCELONA, ES
21 cm with the stand. Provenance: Private collection, France. Serapis was a syncretic deity created in Ptolemaic Egypt and subsequently adopted throughout the Roman world. He combi...
Alabaster
Pietro Bazzanti 19th Century Italian Carrara Marble Bust of Roman Woman
Located in Long Branch, NJ
Pietro Bazzanti 19th Century Italian Carrara Marble Bust of Roman Woman Dimensions : 31" Tall X 24" Wide X 10" Deep This gorgeous marble bust was made by Pietro Bazzanti (1842-1881...
Carrara Marble
Roman Bronze Parade Helmet Fragment, circa A.D. 1st century
Located in York, GB
Provenance: German art market, 2002; With Jean-David Cahn AG, Basel, 2008; Private collection Switzerland; With Cahn International AG, Basel, 2018; Private collection, London - p...
Bronze
1978 Gino Ruggeri Italian Alabaster Figural High Relief Wall Plaque Sculpture
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful alabaster wall plate features a high relief sculpture commemorating the opera, Carmen. Made by hand in Tuscany, Italy by master sculptor Gino Ruggeri. Comes in the original...
Alabaster
18th Century Roman Stone Hand-Carved Classical Warrior
Located in West Hollywood, CA
18th Century Classical Warrior Mounted Bust Hand-Carved Out of Solid Roman Stone Sourced from Rome, Italy by Martyn Lawrence Bullard
Stone
Italian Grand Tour Bronze Figure of the Augustus of Prima Porta by A. Messina
By A. Messina
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
An Italian Grand Tour patinated bronze figure of the Augustus of Prima Porta by A. Messina, Roma late 19th century The standing emperor holding a staff in his left hand, wearing mili...
Marble, Bronze
Antique Bronze Putti Sculptures on Siena Marble Base, Italy, 1880
Located in Montreal, QC
This charming young couple evoke summer in Italy. She with a bill hook and branch with fruiting vine, and her companion with a sheaf of wheat over his shoulder. Each is well modelled...
Marble, Bronze
English 20th Century Stone Bust of a Greco-Roman Youth
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
English, early 20th century or very late 19th century, bust of a young male to add Greco-Roman classical beauty to any garden or art collection. The solid, reconstituted stone–a conc...
Stone
Bust Julius Caesar carved on white and cipolin marble -made in Italy
Located in Tarquinia, IT
Sculpture, emperor bust, Caesar bust, Julius Caesar bust, ancient Roman bust, Roman art, classical art, Greek art, bust, white Carrara marble, classical sculpture, ancient sculpture,...
Marble
Mid-Nineteenth Century Italian Bronze Sculptures of Creugas and Damoxenes
Located in London, GB
Mid-nineteenth century Italian bronze sculptures of Creugas and Damoxenes after the eighteenth century original 'I Pugilatori' by Antonio Canova, set atop serpentine columns. Creuga...
Serpentine, Bronze
$6,111Sale Price|30% Off
Polychrome Marble Bust of a Roman Emperor, 20th Century
Located in Puglia, Puglia
A refined polychrome marble sculptural bust depicting a young Roman emperor, crafted with meticulous attention to detail and inspired by classical portraiture of antiquity. The head...
Marble, Breccia Marble, Carrara Marble
Marble Head of an Elderly Man, likely Roman
Located in Greding, DE
Fragmentary Roman male head depicting an elderly man with a receding hairline, pronounced eyebrows, strong cheek structure, and deep facial wrinkles. Traces of original polychromy re...
Granite, Marble
Sabatino De Angelis Fils Grand Tour Bronze Oil Lamp
By Sabatino De Angelis
Located in Sarasota, FL
Grand tour ancient Roman oil lamp. Signed and dated 1905 by Sabatino de Angelis et Fil. Stunning quality bronze work.
Bronze
Bust of Carrera Marble and Honey Onyx
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Bust Roman Emperor, carrara marble and honey onyx.
Onyx, Marble
Italian Mid-Nineteenth Century Bronze Bust of Lucius Verus
Located in London, GB
Italian mid-nineteenth century bronze bust of Lucius Verus, circa 1860-1870, on circular waisted socle. Lucius Verus ruled Rome alongside Marcus Aureli...
Bronze
$1,800 / set
David Foot Sculpture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Michelangelo David Foot Sculpture Art work at the Academia dal belle arte Venezia . sold as a set it was meant to be coffee table with the glass as a top . USA Continental in home de...
Gesso
$716Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century English Diminutive Parian Bust of Apollo Belvedere
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
19th century English diminutive Parian bust of apollo Belvedere, a well executed example, raised on a 3-inch diameter solace base. Unmarked.
Ceramic
19th Century Italian Alabaster Group of Children Pushing a Cart
By Aristide Petrilli
Located in Brighton, Sussex
This enchanting 19th century Italian carved Alabaster group of four putti playing whilst pushing and pulling a wooden cart, entitled; 'From the harvest' By Prof; A. Petrill, Firenze....
Alabaster
Bisque Porcelain a Stature of Boy and Girl Reading a Book, French, 19th Century
Located in Lantau, HK
A 19th century French bisque sculpture of a stature of boy and girl reading a book. Biscuit porcelain with indistinct signature to base 'LIARD', Shipping included Free and fa...
Carrara Marble
Light refractory ceramic female torso -made in Italy
Located in Tarquinia, IT
Classical-style female torso made on light refractory ceramic attached to Roman travertine stone base. Light-colored refractory clay is very durable and from appearance can be confus...
Ceramic
Antique Hand-Carved Italian Lion Head Fountain Mask, Early 1900s
Located in Milano, MI
This antique stone mask was probably used in a fountain. It is a very decorative Italian antique object. The mask fits as decorative object on a bureau o...
Stone
$675 / set
Italian Male Bust Sculptures Grand Tour
By A. Santini
Located in New York, NY
A set of three (3) Italian male sculpture busts by R. Santini, in the classical Roman or Grand Tour design style, circa mid-20th century, Italy. This set of busts could be used for a library, office, etc., on a shelf, table, etc. Marked on bottom as shown in images. Dimensions L to R: Nerone: 4.63" Width x 6" Height Augusto: 4.13" Width x 5.75" Height Traiano: 4.63" Width x 6.19" Height Italian table, search ref. #: LU1314231162942 (SOLD.) For Corinthian capitol columns...
Composition
$4,933Sale Price|20% Off
Ancient roman Head of Eros, in white marble, circa A.D. 2nd - 3rd century
Located in York, GB
Provenance: Private collection, Belgium; Galerie Chenel, Paris; Private collection, London This beautiful little fragment was likely made for a larger relief sculpture, and is co...
Marble
A 19th C. Italian Carrara Marble Statue of Dancing Faun by A. Frilli, Firenze
Located in New York, NY
A Life-Size Italian 19th Century Carrara Marble Statue of a Dancing Faun with Cymbals signed by A. Frilli, Firenze. This piece is after the original model by Massimiliano Soldani (I...
Carrara Marble
Bust of Marcus Aurelius in polychrome marble -made in Italy
Located in Tarquinia, IT
Sculpture, emperor bust, ancient Roman bust, Roman art, classical art, Greek art, bust, white Carrara marble, classical sculpture, Marcus Aurelius, ancient sculpture, ancient bust, m...
Carrara Marble
Stylish, Late 1800s Handmade Italian, Alabaster Column, Pedestal or Stand
Located in Lisse, NL
Wonderful Roman column for displaying a work of art. This piece is composed of eight stacked segments, forming a beautifully twisted column inspired by ancient Roman and Baroque des...
Alabaster
$1,980
Plaster Bust of Marianne
Located in Atlanta, GA
Marianne is the embodiment of the French Republic. Marianne represents the permanent values that found her citizens' attachment to the Republic: "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity".
Plaster
Ancient Roman Trapezophore of a satyr abducting a maenad
Located in BARCELONA, ES
Trapezophore of a Satyr abducting a Maenad Ancient Rome · 1st - 2nd century AD Marble Height 54 cm and 71 cm with the stand. Provenance: - Former private collection, United Kingd...
Marble
19th c. French Bronze Dancing Faun by Lequesne Eugène-Louis
By (after) Eugène-Louis Lequesne
Located in Wichita, KS
A 19th c. French bronze figure of a dancing faun by Eugène-Louis Lequesne. Hand-signed at the base Lequesne (1815-1887). Likely cast by the Gautieur foundry. Found in Paris. Dime...
Bronze
$3,360Sale Price / set|20% Off
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. ...
Lead
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...
Marble, Bronze
Bronze figure of Augustus after Roman period original
Located in London, GB
Known as the ‘Augustus of Prima Porta,’ the original bronze version of this sculpture was created c. 20 BCE. That original has been lost since antiquity but is known today from a mar...
Marble, Bronze
Carrara Marble Head In Antique Style
Located in Charmes, FR
18th century or older sculpted marble head? mounted on a contemporary iron base in good condition
Carrara Marble
Mid-19th Century French Bronze Figure of the Borghese Gladiator
Located in London, GB
A French bronze figure of the Borghese Gladiator, mid-19th century, cast by Ferdinand Barbedienne, after the antique. Base dimensions: 34.5cm...
Bronze
Horse head walking -fragment- white marble from carrara -made in Italy
Located in Tarquinia, IT
Sculpture, horse sculpture, marble horse, carrara marble sculpture, sculpture made in Italy. Sculpture of a fragment of an incedent horse in the march Resting on a basalt and iron b...
Marble
$2,160Sale Price|20% Off
"Diana, Hunting and Moon Goddess" - Antique Biscuit Porcelain Sculpture, 1800s
Located in Skien, NO
LARGE SIZE - Extraordinary art sculpture, figurine group, statue in primitive antique biscuit Porcelain from 1800s. RARE collectible centerpiece. Title: "Diana, Hunting and Moon God...
Porcelain
Diana Gabii, sculpture carved on white Carrara marble, made in Italy
Located in Tarquinia, IT
Sculpture of the Diana "Gabii," hand carved on beautiful white Carrara marble. Made n Italy The total weight is 23 kg The sculpture has an "antiqued" treatment, even with special pa...
Carrara Marble
Antique Grand Tour Roman Figure Classical Bronze Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
Antique Grand Tour classical cast bronze Roman figural sculpture with laurel crown. Beautiful old patina throughout sculpture.
Bronze
Bust Eleonora Duse Attributable Sculptor Arrigo Minerbi Villa Callas Sirmione
By Arrigo Minerbi
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Bust of Eleonora Duse attributable to the sculptor Arrigo Minerbi, from Villa Callas Sirmione of Giovanni Battista Meneghini. Bust obtained from stone o...
Stone
Classical Maitland Smith Style Carved Mahogany Wood Bust on Alabaster - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Please message us with your zip code to request a more reasonable domestic U.S. shipping quote. Classical Maitland Smith Style Carved Mahogany Wood Busts on Alabaster Plinths (Unmar...
Alabaster
Bust of the Apollo Belvedere in Natural Stone, 2nd Half 20th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Apollo, the Roman god of light, spring, music, song, and poetry. The Apollo Belvedere is among the most celebrated ancient marble sculptures and has been regarded as a masterpiece of...
Stone
foot sculpture with fine ancient Roman footwear - made in Italy
Located in Tarquinia, IT
carved foot, Roman footwear, marble foot, ancient Roman foot, Roman foot sculpture, Foot sculpture with footwear in ancient Rome style. Sculpture valuable and highly original Materi...
Marble
Matching Pair of Handcarved Italian Alabaster Horses
Located in Dallas, TX
Presenting a lovely matching pair of handcarved Italian Alabaster horses. Mid 20th century circa 1960. Pair of hand-carved horses that look like ...
Alabaster