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Classical Roman Decorative Objects

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
Bust of the David
Located in New York, NY
A plaster/composition cast head bust of the David, in the classical Roman style, circa mid-20th century. Column bookend shown available separately, search 1stDibs ref. #: LU1314244...
Category

Mid-20th Century Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Composition

Bronze sculpture Marcus Aurelius
Located in Rome, IT
Description Bronze sculpture Marcus Aurelius. ADDITIONAL PHOTOS, INFORMATION OF THE LOT AND SHIPPING INFORMATION CAN BE REQUEST BY SENDING AN EMAIL. Indicative shipping costs in Ital...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

Italian Grand Tour Bronze Cast of Faun of Pompeii
Located in Madrid, ES
This work, cast in the last quarter of the 19th century, is a type of souvenir called GRAND TOUR, the great trip that many Europeans made as the last educational trip that brought th...
Category

Late 19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

Bust of the David
Located in New York, NY
A plaster/composition cast head bust of the David, in the classical Roman style, circa mid-20th century. Column bookend shown available separately, search 1stDibs ref. #: LU1314244...
Category

Mid-20th Century Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Composition

Late 19th Century Bronze Sculpture - The Dancing Faun of Pompeii
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A beautiful antique bronze sculpture of a dancing Faun. The statue was made at the end of the 19th century, after a famous statue from ancient Greek period, called 'The Dancing Faun ...
Category

1870s French Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

Castilian Imports Bronze Column Candlesticks, 20th Century
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Castilian Imports Bronze Column Candlesticks. 20th Century.
Category

20th Century Indian Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze, Iron

Majestic Pink Onyx Sculpture Vase Subjects Roses Leaves Floral Handmade in Italy
Located in Ancona, Marche
"Le Vie en Rose" is not just a vase or rather a sculpture, imagine it as a memory, the memory of a nobility now dissolved, a suspended memory, forgotten in a secret garden, of those ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Onyx, Marble

Petite Italian Bronze & Slate Etruscan Statue Sculpture
Located in San Diego, CA
Small Etruscan Sculpture Firenze Italy 1980's bronze & Slate.
Category

20th Century Italian Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Slate, Bronze

Italian Majolica Pharmacy Jar
Located in Bradenton, FL
Late 18th century Italian Majolica Polychrome Pharmacy Jar or Albarello, dated 1777. These jars were use in apothecaries to hold medicinal herbs, powders...
Category

Late 18th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Majolica

Wedgwood Jasperware lidded boxes serving bowls classicism Mid-Century England
Located in Wien, AT
The set of Wedgwood consists of three lidded boxes in different shape and design and two small serving bowls of which one can be used as an ashtray. All is made of the famous but r...
Category

1980s English Vintage Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

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...
Category

Early 2000s Italian Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Marble

Roman torso in stone
Located in 'S-HERTOGENBOSCH, NL
Muscular torso in stoneware, after the classical greek and Roman sculptures. with a good patina. Signed but not readable (see last picture). Probably circa 1930.
Category

1930s Italian Vintage Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Stoneware

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.
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

Italian Marble Bust of Venus Italica on Frosted Lucite Base
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
An exquisite marble bust from the early 19th Century portraying a female figure. A true testament to the craftsmanship of after Antonio Canova of Italy. This piece stands atop a 2 ti...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Marble

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 Decorative Objects

Materials

Stone, Marble, Carrara Marble

18th-19th Century Neoclassical Multi-Marble Bust of Roman Emperor Titus Domitian
Located in New York, NY
A striking late 18th-early 19th century bust of the Roman Emperor Titus Domitian. The head is made from hand carved white Carrara marble, the tunic and t...
Category

Late 18th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Alabaster, Breccia Marble, Carrara Marble

19th Century Italian Ormolu Mounted Multi-Marble Julius Caesar Coliseum Model
Located in New York, NY
A 19th Century Italian Ormolu Mounted Multi-Marble Julius Caesar Coliseum Model. This is a beautiful rendition of a Roman coliseum with a dore bronze mounted Julius Caesar standing in the middle of the marble masterpiece. The domed top is made up of multiple marble species including verde marble, carrara marble, and rough marble...
Category

1860s Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Marble, Carrara Marble, Siena Marble, Bronze

A Roman Marble Sculpture of Hercules, Circa 1st / 2nd Century AD Ex Sotheby's
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A Roman Marble Sculpture of Hercules, Circa 1st / 2nd Century AD The sculpture is nude except for the draped Nemean lion skin. Provenance: Sotheby's London, December 14, 1981, lot ...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Marble

Pair Of Limestone Columns, Circa 1940
Located in Honnelles, WHT
Pair Of Limestone Columns, Circa 1940
Category

20th Century Italian Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Limestone

19th Century Bronze Bust of Dionysus by Sabatino de Angelis
By Sabatino De Angelis
Located in Richmond, London
A superb 'Grand Tour' bronze bust, traditionally described as Dionysus (Dionysos), after the original excavated at the Villa of the Papyri in 1754, by the Sabatino and Sons foundry, ...
Category

Late 19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

Rose Sculpture Vase 13 Roses Hand Carved Italy Pink Onyx Block Limited Edition
Located in Ancona, Marche
"Roma Imperiale" is not just a vase or rather a sculpture, imagine it as a memory, the memory of a nobility now dissolved, a suspended memory, forgotten in a secret garden, of those ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Onyx, Marble

Hellenistic Grotesque Theatre Mask of Maccus
Located in London, GB
Grotesque theatrical mask of Maccus Late Hellenistic or Early Imperial period, circa 1st century B.C. – 1st century A.D., likely from Southern Italy. Terracotta with remains of pin...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Terracotta

Italian Antique Stone Cast Bust of Marcus Aurelius Caracalla
Located in Encinitas, CA
This late 19th century carved stone bust made of "Grisaglia' in Italian, a mix of stone powder and lime stones, depicts Marcus Aurelius Caracalla, the roman emperor from 198 to 217 A...
Category

Late 19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Concrete

Extremely Rare Roman Glass Fragment with Iridescent Patina – 1st–4th Century AD
Located in Fukuoka, JP
A remarkable and rare fragment of ancient Roman glass, dating from the 1st to 4th century AD. The glass is preserved in excellent condition and displays a stunning natural iridescent...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

Nineteenth Century Italian Bronze of Seated Hermes
Located in London, GB
Nineteenth century Italian bronze model of Seated Hermes, stamped 'GIORGIO SOMMER FOUNDRY, NAPLES', set on marble plinth base. Dimensions: 44cm (17¼") High, 42cm (16½") Wide, Base 2...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Ancient Classical Style Antique Iridescent Glass Bottle
Located in New York, NY
Lucite base holder, Measures. 3.4" x 4.2" x 1.8"L.
Category

Mid-18th Century Unknown Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Blown Glass

Roman Terracotta Oil Lamps, Set of Four
Located in Bradenton, FL
Roman Terracotta Oil Lamps, Set of Four, used as an alternative to candles, dating back to 2nd century A.D. These small and compact oil lamps comm...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Terracotta

19th Century Italian Carrara Marble Bust of the Albani Faun
Located in London, GB
Antique Italian Marble Bust of a Faun or Satyr. A late 19th Century Italian carved Carrara marble bust, after the 'Albani Faun' classical Roman sculpture. High quality bust in Carr...
Category

Late 19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Carrara Marble

A Grand Tour bronze figure of Mercury ( Hermes ) on a marble collum
Located in 'S-HERTOGENBOSCH, NL
A bronze on a marble column after Giovanni Bologna, depicting the Roman god Mercury messenger of the gods flying through the air raised on a path of air made by the mouth of a cherub...
Category

1850s French Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Larva Antiqua
Located in היוגב, IL
I sculpted a raw vase that looks as if it were discovered in some archaeological excavation from the Roman period. I decided to name it “Larva Antiqua,” an ancient spirit that connec...
Category

2010s Israeli Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

Larva Antiqua
Larva Antiqua
Sponsored
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...
Category

Late 19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Carrara Marble

A Large Terracotta Statue of Discobolus, 19th Century
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A Large Terracotta Statue of Discobolus, 19th Century A Terracotta statue of the classical Greek 'Discobolus" by Myron. This particular figure is modelled after the 2nd century Roma...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Terracotta

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...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Marble

Larva Antiqua
Located in היוגב, IL
I sculpted a raw vase that looks as if it were discovered in some archaeological excavation from the Roman period. I decided to name it “Larva Antiqua,” an ancient spirit that connec...
Category

2010s Israeli Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

Antique Handcrafted Bronze Table Centerpiece Bowl by F. Levillain & Barbedienne
Located in Lisse, NL
Stunning French bronze tazza with wine & Bacchus theme, by Ferdinand LEVILLAIN (1837-1905). Every time we find an antique of this extraordinary quality and beauty we wonder what p...
Category

19th Century French Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

French Set of Champleve Enameled Small Inkwell and Letter Opener
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a small bronze champleve enamel set of an inkwell and letter opener. Both of them depicts colorful hand painted flowers, “C” scrolls and foliages. The resting plate of the in...
Category

Early 20th Century French Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

Carrara marble statue of Cupid, 19th century, after Étienne Maurice Falconet
Located in NICE, FR
White marble sculpture of Cupid based on a work by Étienne Maurice Falconet (1716-1791), the original of which is in the Louvre Museum in Paris. It is presented on a gilded wooden base with a pearl stripe. Very fine craftsmanship and high quality for this 19th-century white veined Carrara marble statue of Cupid. Height with base: 59 cm. Weight: 30 kg. The original work, also known as “L'Amour menaçant...
Category

1860s French Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Carrara Marble

Roman Marble Foot
Located in London, GB
Roman marble Fragment of a Right Foot with Sandal Circa 1st - 2nd Century A.D. An evocative Roman marble fragment, preserving the front portion of an over-lifesized sandalled foot. The toes, nails, and bridge of the foot have been sensitively carved. The outer sole of the sandal remains, with delicate, pointed straps joining between the first two toes in a diamond shape. This fragment once belonged to Danish sculptor Jens Adolf Jerichau...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Marble

19th Century Italian Grand Tour Augustus Caesar Bust By Antonio Frilli
Located in Bradenton, FL
19th Century Italian Grand Tour Marble Bust of Augustus Caesar by Antonio Frilli. White marble bust is on a black plinth. Antonio Frilli was a Florentine sculptor who specialized in ...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

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...
Category

1990s Italian Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Marble

Large Vintage Italian Capodimonte Porcelain Box
Located in Houston, TX
Large vintage Italian Capodimonte Porcelain box. Stunning large vintage Italian Capodimonte porcelain box. This lovely...
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Lyons by Antoine Durenne Was a French Cast Iron "Offer Free Shipping in Florida"
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
They are in Miami. We offer free shipping in Florida. They were exhibited at Palm beach "American International Fine Art Fair (AIFAF)" In the photos you can see a pair of lions of...
Category

1880s French Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Iron

Beautiful Antique Bust of a Warrior in the Roman Style, 20th Century.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Beautiful antique bust of a warrior in the Roman style, 20th century. Antique-style nude male, bust in composite material, 20th century.     h: 82cm , w: 72cm, d: 46,5cm
Category

20th Century European Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Composition

Magnificent Austrian Pair of Seven-Light Sterling Silver Candelabra, Hollowware
Located in Big Bend, WI
Magnificent Austrian succession sterling silver massive candelabrum pair of seven-light figural museum. Each candelabra features a Grecian style ma...
Category

Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Sterling Silver

Large Pair of 19th Century Italain Medici Urns on Sienna Marble Bases
Located in Hudson, NY
This impressive and large pair of decorative urns from the grand tour are designed to recreate the famous Medici Vase. The grand vase a 1st cen...
Category

Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Italian 17th Century Pair Decorative Torchères Hand-Carved Walnut Giltwood
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Italian precious original 17th century pair of decorative columns , Torchères, hand-carved walnut gold leaf covered, on a tripod base.
Category

17th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Walnut

1990s Bust of Roman Hand Carved in Carrara White and Alicante Red Marble
Located in Marbella, ES
1990s bust of a Roman, hand carved by craftsmen using Carrara white marble for the head and Alicante red for the toga, where the white veins give movement and realism to the cloth. S...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Marble

Antique Roman style Fragment of a life size Marble Woman’s sculpture
Located in Doha, QA
The bottom of a life size marble woman’s sculpture, Roman Empire ,- a woman foot with the toes. A very decorative piece and part of the Roman Empire history. It’s rested for display...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Marble

Vienna Porcelain Classical Vase
Located in Newark, England
Fine ‘Vienna‘ Austria porcelain vase. The vase of Classic Roman shape with flared rim and pinched neck with scrolling shoulders and tapered body stood...
Category

Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic, Porcelain

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 Decorative Objects

Materials

Carrara Marble

19th Century Italian Alabaster Bust
Located in Houston, TX
19th century Italian alabaster bust. Well sculpted antique Italian alabaster or marble bust of a classical female mounted on a plinth. This is a beautifully detailed antique alabaster bust...
Category

1860s Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Alabaster

Unique Denmark Made Classical Roman Wall Clock with Sculptures and Flowers
Located in Lisse, NL
Tasteful and unique wooden wall clock with sculptural front. The magnificent front of this midcentury era wall clock is entirely hand carved out of solid wood. It is difficult to se...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Mid-20th Century Italian Basalt Tazza
Located in Chicago, IL
This mid-20th century Italian basalt porcelain tazza is a refined study in classical elegance. With a wide, low bowl gracefully elevated on a turned foot, its proportions echo the ti...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

Bust of Marcus Aurelus in Marble in marble and onyx, 20th century
Located in NICE, FR
Add a piece of history to your collection with this exquisite bust of Marcus Aurelus, sculpted in pure white marble and iridescent orange onyx. This bust is a classic depiction of on...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Marble

Italian Male Bust Sculptures Grand Tour
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...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Composition

A Roman Marble Sculpture of Hercules, Circa 1st / 2nd Century AD Ex Sotheby's
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A Roman Marble Sculpture of Hercules, Circa 1st / 2nd Century AD The sculpture is nude except for the draped Nemean lion skin. Provenance: Sotheby's London, December 14, 1981, lot ...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Marble

Vintage mid century David bust sculpture A Santini made in Italy
Located in Birmingham, AL
Vintage David Bust Replica of Famous Statue David - Premium Sculpted Resin of Marble with White Marble Finish Hand Painted and patinated, made in Italy. Condition: It is in very go...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Alabaster

Rustic Travertine Stone Sculpture, Roman Empire - 130 AD, Gallery Display, HAAND
Located in St Petersburg, US
Inspired by the grandeur of the ancient Hadrian's Gate, this handcrafted travertine sculpture captures the essence of history and craftsmanship. Commissioned in the year 130 AD to h...
Category

2010s European Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Stone, Travertine, Marble

Italian Ornate Mantel Clock with Two Figural Cherub Candelabras - Garniture Set
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Italian Roman Style Ornate Mantel Clock with Two Figural Cherub Candelabras - Garniture Set The Vintage Italian Roman Style Ornate Mantel ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Horse sculpture -fragment- light ceramic bronze patina -made in Italy
Located in Tarquinia, IT
Horse sculpture fragment, ceramic horse, bronze horse Bronze patinated light ceramic sculpture placed on volcanic stone and iron base light refractory ceramic, bronze patinated. dime...
Category

Early 2000s Italian Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

Early 20th Century French Bronze Decorative Dish with Classical Roman Decor
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant, antique bronze centerpiece was crafted in France, circa 1920. The shallow dish sits on an intricate round base; the top is dec...
Category

Early 20th Century French Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

Rose Sculpture Vase 13 Roses Hand Carved Italy Pink Onyx Block Limited Edition
Located in Ancona, Marche
"Roma Imperiale" is not just a vase or rather a sculpture, imagine it as a memory, the memory of a nobility now dissolved, a suspended memory, forgotten in a secret garden, of those ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Onyx, Marble

Hand Painted Blue Ceramic Vase by Bottega Vignoli Italy Contemporary Majolica
Located in London, GB
Cassettoni Vase 2024, hand-painted majolica, fired in full fire-reduction Dimensions: 28 cm diameter x 36 cm height Unique piece Bottega Vignoli is a brand of artistic ceramics b...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic, Earthenware, Majolica

Majestic Pink Onyx Sculpture Vase Subjects Roses Leaves Floral Handmade in Italy
Located in Ancona, Marche
"Le Vie en Rose" is not just a vase or rather a sculpture, imagine it as a memory, the memory of a nobility now dissolved, a suspended memory, forgotten in a secret garden, of those ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Onyx, Marble

Roman Marble Trapezophorus circa 1st-2nd Century A.D
Located in Madrid, ES
A Roman marble trapezophorus in the Form of a Barbarian Dacian young figure. Circa 1st-2nd century A.D. Measure: height 24 1/4 inches (62 cm). Property from Mr. Radu Moldovan, Skokie, Illinois Provenance: B.C. Holland Gallery...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Marble

Wedgwood First Edition Portland Vase
Located in New Orleans, LA
This extraordinary First Edition Wedgwood rendering of the legendary Portland Vase is one of the rarest masterpieces of Josiah Wedgwood, the most important ceramics manufacturer of the 18th century. A tour de force of ceramic art, the Portland Vase First Editions are regarded as one of the greatest ceramic accomplishments of the 18th century, and they are a testament to the superior skill of Josiah Wedgwood, his extraordinary ambition and his tireless dedication to perfection. One of the very few First Editions still in private hands, this exceptional Wedgwood Portland Vase is one of the most important works of ceramics on the market. The story of Wedgwood and the Portland Vase is legendary. The original Portland Vase is the ancient world's most famous decorative arts masterpiece—a cameo glass vase dating to circa 25 CE with a frieze representing the myth of Peleus and Thetis, initially thought to be carved from stone. When it was first rediscovered around 1582, it captivated the world with its opaque white cameo figures over its rich blue background. After the vase was excavated it was owned by Cardinal Barberini, whose family later sold it to the Duke of Hamilton who eventually sold it to the Duchess of Portland, from whom the famed vase now takes its name. The famed British sculptor John Flaxman was likely the first to have brought the vase to Wedgwood’s attention. In a letter dated February 5, 1784, he wrote: “I wish you may soon come to town to see William Hamilton’s vase, it is the finest production of Art that has been brought to England and seems to be the very apex of perfection to which you are endeavouring to bring your bisque and jasper…” Indeed, the Portland Vase is a masterpiece of cameo-cutting, with a stunning frieze of opaque white cameo glass over its translucent deep blue form. Its beauty and translucence would inspire Wedgwood to undertake his years-long endeavor to precisely replicate the original in porcelain. Upon closer examination, Wedgwood realized the vase was not made of stone or earthenware, but of cameo glass—a technique so advanced it remains the masterpiece of cameo-cutting. Today, the vase is housed in the British Museum, where it is the second most viewed antiquity, only after the Rosetta Stone. It then took Wedgwood several painstaking years to craft his unparalleled copy of the vase, during which he perfected the jasperware technique that would become his crowning achievement. To this day, the renowned porcelain firm regards the vase as its most momentous triumph, so much so that the vessel’s silhouette is incorporated into the Wedgwood logo. The four years it took Wedgwood to complete his vase were not without tribulations. From the start, Wedgwood encountered numerous problems with his copies, from cracking and blistering to the difficulty of replicating the translucent effects of the original. The first acceptable copy was produced in October 1789 and sent to Wedgwood’s physician and friend Erasmus Darwin, the grandfather of Charles Darwin. Wedgwood presented another copy to Queen Charlotte in May 1790 and afterward organized a private exhibition of the vase at the Portland House in London. The viewing proved so popular that Wedgwood was forced to restrict the show to 1,900 visitors. Much of London wished to see Wedgwood’s greatest major achievement. Perhaps the highest praise of Wedgwood’s copy came from the famed artist Sir Joshua Reynolds, the founder of the British Royal Academy: “I can venture to declare it a correct and faithful imitation, both in regard to the general effect, and the most minute detail of the part.” Over the next few years, Wedgwood's oven records listed 43 First Edition copies of the Portland Vase produced between 1791 and 1796, 11 of which were broken during the firing process. In all, it is believed around 30 First Edition vases were completed, though an unknown number of these were somewhat damaged—one of these imperfect examples is currently held by the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. The perfect examples such as ours have found their way into the most important museum collections in the world. The British Museum (London), Art Institute of Chicago, Birmingham Museum of Art, Museum of Fine Arts (Boston) and the Fitzwilliam Museum (Cambridge, UK), among others, all hold one of these highly coveted vases in their collections. In terms of technical achievement, the First Edition Portland Vases...
Category

18th Century English Antique Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Porcelain

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Mid-20th Century Italian Classical Roman Decorative Objects

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Category

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Resin

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Category

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Materials

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Category

1960s Italian Vintage Classical Roman Decorative Objects

Materials

Terracotta

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Category

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Materials

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Category

1940s French Vintage Classical Roman Decorative Objects

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Classical Roman decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Classical Roman decorative objects 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 decorative objects created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, building and garden elements, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with stone, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Classical Roman decorative objects 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 decorative objects, popular names associated with this style include Europa Antiques, LAGU, F. Barbedienne Foundry, and Bottega Vignoli. 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 decorative objects 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 $2,800.

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