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.
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Style: Classical Roman
Period: Early 20th Century
Mid Century Cast Limestone Sculpture Bust Of A Roman Emperor Possibly Caesar
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous cast limestone sculpture bust of a Roman dignitary, possibly Caesar or Augustus. Great detailed casting of stone with an angled pose in typical Roman garb. Fantastic hair! P...
Category
1920s American Vintage Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Cast Stone, Limestone
Important Roman "Torso"in Carrara Marble early 20th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Important Roman "Torso" in Carrara marble
early 20th Century
Carrara marble
Torso h: 32cm. 24cm x 16cm
Base: 20cm x 20cm h: 20cm ( modern base )
H.total: 62cm
30kg
Excellent condi...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Carrara Marble
French Art Deco Bronze Figure
Located in Houston, TX
A 1930s French Art Deco bronze Roman warrior figure with spear and shield on black marble base.
Category
Early 20th Century French Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Plaster Skinned Anatomical Figure, circa 1900s, Ellegible Signature
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Plaster Skinned Anatomical Figure, circa 1900s, Ellegible Signature
Category
Early 20th Century Andorran Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Plaster
toriginal plaster head representing EL DANTE, circa 1900
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
original plaster head representing EL DANTE, circa 1900
Category
Early 20th Century European Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Plaster
A Plaster Bust of Seneca
Located in Atlanta, GA
Roman philosopher Lucius Annaeus Seneca the Younger, usually known as Seneca, was a Stoic philosopher of Ancient Rome, a statesman, dramatist, and in one work, satirist, from the pos...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Plaster
Plaster Bust of Paolina Borghese Bonaparte
Located in Atlanta, GA
The plaster bust portrays Napoleon's sister, Pauline Bonaparte, as Venus Victorious.
It was commissioned by her husband, Camillo Borghese, and originally sculpted in Rome from 1805 ...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Plaster
Italian Majolica ceramic Bust of a Man - Roman Empire Style
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A beautiful white ceramic glazed bust of a man.
Depicting a man from the Roman Empire.
Estimated origin and date: France, circe 1910-1920.
Dimensions: 39 (h) x 41 (w) x 26 (d) cm....
Category
1910s Italian Vintage Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic
A fine pair of late 19th century Alabaster and marble Roman dignitary busts
Located in Dallas, TX
A fine pair of late 19th century to early 20th century Italian alabaster and black Belgian marble busts of Roman dignitaries. Hand carved and fine detail
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Alabaster, Belgian Black Marble
French Plaster Bust of a Classical Roman Male
Located in Houston, TX
French plaster bust of a classical roman male.
Handsome Italian stone bust of a Classical Roman, circa 1920. This beautiful classical male bust sculpture i...
Category
1920s French Vintage Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Plaster
Antique Collection of Sculptures, Plaques and Elements in Plaster French Origin
Located in Buxton, GB
Fabulous Collection of Plaster Sculptures/Carved Elements
7 Individual Carvings
Plaster
Nice Patina
French Origin
Beautiful Carved Details
19th Century/ Early 20th
Would look ...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Plaster
English Victorian Parian Ware Figure
Located in Newark, England
The figure sat upon a hollowed oval pedestal base with a beautifully detailed scene of cupid sat upon a lion, the figural group named The Power of Love to the front centre dates to t...
Category
Early 1900s Antique Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic
An Italian Cast 19th Century Bronze Group Mother & Children Titled "La Tempête"
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Fine Italian Cast 19th Century Bronze Group Titled "La Tempête" (The Tempest) Probably after Mathurin Moreau (French, 1822–1912), Cast by The Alessandro Nelli Foundry in Rome. The ...
Category
Early 1900s Italian Antique Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French Terracotta Sculpture of a Classical Male
Located in Houston, TX
French terracotta sculpture of a classical male.
This stunning French terra cotta sculpture of a classical Roman male is expertly executed...
Category
1920s French Vintage Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta, Wood
Antique Terracotta Recumbent Lions, Continental, Late 19th/Early 20th Century
Located in Chatham, ON
Antique pair of Neoclassical style terracotta recumbent lions - unsigned - Continental - late 19th/early 20th century.
The over-all condition of this pair of pre-owned antique ite...
Category
Early 20th Century European Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta
L. F. Jørgensen, Denmark, Impressive Terracotta Sculpture of Roman Warrior
Located in Copenhagen, DK
L. F. Jørgensen, Denmark, a large and impressive terracotta sculpture of a Roman warrior with a shield.
Early 20th century.
In excellent condition with minor signs of use.
Marked....
Category
Early 20th Century Danish Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic
Large Antique Nelli Roma Bronze Sculpture 'The Dying Gaul' on a Plinthe Base
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This very large and substantial antique sculpture was done by the Nelli Roma foundary of Italy in approximately 1900 and done in a Classical Roman style. Th...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Granite, Marble, Bronze
Antique Grand Tour Ornately Cast 'The Dying Gaul' Italian Bronze Sculpture
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This very ornately cast bronze sculpture is unsigned, but presumed to have been done in Italy in approximately 1900, in the Classical Roman style. This figurative study depicts the famous Classical Roman sculpture known as 'The Dying Gaul...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
20th Century Italian Stone Fountain Mask
Located in Milan, IT
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...
Category
Early 20th Century European Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Stone
Sculpture Woman in Bronze and Marble Guss Wollenbergu Schuttz
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Sculpture Woman in Bronze and Marble
Guss Wollenbergu Schuttz
We have specialized in the sale of Art Deco and Art Nouveau and Vintage styles since 1982. If you have any questions we...
Category
Early 1900s German Antique Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Marble, Bronze
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...
Category
1920s Italian Vintage Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Carrara Marble
Early 20th Century Bronze Bust of David, Désiré Weygers
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
An antique brown patinated bronze bust depicting the mythical David after Michelangelo's masterpiece displayed in the Museum of Florence. The ...
Category
Early 1900s Belgian Antique Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Siena Marble, Bronze
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
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
Bronze Equestrian Sculpter with Caesar on Marble Base, Early 20th Century
Located in Charleston, SC
Bronze Equestrian sculpter with Caesar on marble base, early 20th century.
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Marble, Bronze
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
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
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
Carved Italian Alabaster Sculpture of a Maiden at the Well, circa 1900
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Carved Italian Alabaster sculpture of a maiden at the water fountain
Italy, circa 1900.
Depicting a young maiden leaning on a decora...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Alabaster
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
Antique Italian Terracotta Classical Bust on a Wood Base
Located in Houston, TX
Antique Italian terracotta classical bust on a wood base.
Italian patinated terra cotta bust or sculpture of a classical Roman on a wood base, circa 1920, possibly a Grand Tour piece...
Category
1920s Italian Vintage Classical Roman Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta
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.