Classical Greek Jars

CLASSICAL GREEK STYLE

There is rare surviving furniture from ancient Greece, yet this classical style has informed design for centuries. Interiors of houses in antiquity were minimal, with much of a room’s color coming from frescoes on the walls and mosaics on the floors. Classical Greek furniture was sparing but finely crafted and influenced by Egyptian furniture design through Mediterranean trade.

Furnishings of the period were usually made from local wood like cypress, cedar, oak and willow from ancient Greece’s plentiful forests, although some pieces were carved from marble, such as a 300–200 B.C. throne with lion legs and a curved back now at the Getty Villa. Comfort and clean lines characterized designs during the Classical era, the symmetry and thoughtful proportions reflecting the architecture of Greek temples.

Some pieces of ancient Greek furniture were simple, rectangular platforms like the klinē, a multipurpose ancestor of today’s couches or daybeds that held cushions stuffed with wool, dry grass or down. These structures were used for both sleeping and dining, which wealthy Greeks did while reclining. At night, oil lamps illuminated rooms that frequently surrounded a garden courtyard.

Most of what scholars have learned about Greek furniture design owes to its representations in art like vases and stelae. The portable diphros stool, with its backless design and four turned legs, was one of the more common types of seating in daily Greek life — it appears as such for the gods on the Parthenon frieze. Stools without backs have been found in early Roman tombs, while benches were also common Greek seating furniture created for use in theaters. In houses of the Hellenistic period, benches seemingly functioned as tables, too.

Some designs evolved through adaptations by the Romans, including the klismos chair. After prominent archaeological excavations at Pompeii and Herculaneum, the klismos chair — with its four saber legs and the elegant curves that define its back — was a source of inspiration for aesthetics in eras ranging from 18th-century neoclassicism to 20th-century Art Deco.

Find a collection of Classical Greek decorative objects, wall decorations and building and garden elements on 1stDibs.

Style: Classical Greek

Ancient Greek Black Glaze Mug

$15,000

Ancient Greek Black Glaze Mug

Located in London, GB

This strikingly modern ancient Greek mug is a sleek and elegant example of Attic black-glaze pottery at its height. Developing in Athens in the 8th cent...

Category

15th Century and Earlier Antique Classical Greek Jars

Materials

Pottery

Pair of Attic Red-Figured Glaux

$25,000

Pair of Attic Red-Figured Glaux

Located in Beverly Hills, CA

A charming pair, with the usualy disparate glaux handles, one vertical strap and one horizontal. One of the pair is slightly larger than the other, with a seated, draped winged Nike ...

Category

15th Century and Earlier Greek Antique Classical Greek Jars

Materials

Terracotta

Greek Corinthian Lebes Gamikos Vessel

$645

Greek Corinthian Lebes Gamikos Vessel

Located in Ottawa, CA

An Ancient Greek Corinthian Lebes Gamikos vessel of the most beautiful form, circa 4th century BCE. An incredible vessel, Lebes Gamikos vessels were used in ceremonial settings, most...

Category

15th Century and Earlier Greek Antique Classical Greek Jars

Materials

Terracotta

Greek Wood Lekythos

$105

Greek Wood Lekythos

Located in Scottsdale, AZ

Greek Wood Lekythos by Contemporary 20th- Century Greek Ceramist Amphora V. Pertacopoulos. The artist is known for his hand-painted replicas depicting ancient Greek vessels. This was...

Category

Mid-20th Century Greek Classical Greek Jars

Materials

Wood

Greek Corinthian Skyphos Vessel

$790

Greek Corinthian Skyphos Vessel

Located in Ottawa, CA

Beautiful Ancient Greek Skyphos vessel, Corinthian, dating between the 7th and 6th centuries BCE. Featuring beautiful deep cup form with twin horizontal loop handles, one on either s...

Category

15th Century and Earlier Greek Antique Classical Greek Jars

Materials

Terracotta

Large Greek Olive Jar with Metal Stand

$2,640Sale Price|20% Off

Large Greek Olive Jar with Metal Stand

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Beautiful large 1940s Greek Olive Jar with metal stand. The height of 46 inches includes the metal stand.

Category

Mid-20th Century Greek Classical Greek Jars

Materials

Terracotta

Early 20th Century Greek Style Green Ewer Pitcher

$995

Early 20th Century Greek Style Green Ewer Pitcher

Located in Lambertville, NJ

Elegant Verdi green glazed Grecian style terra cotta ewer, circa 1920s measuring 27 inches tall, 11 inches diameter. The green and black glaze with a stippled effect in a jade green color.

Category

1920s American Vintage Classical Greek Jars

Materials

Terracotta

Large Greek Olive Jar with Metal Stand

$3,200

Large Greek Olive Jar with Metal Stand

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Beautiful large 1930s Greek Olive Jar with metal stand. The height includes a 10" tall metal stand.

Category

Mid-20th Century Greek Classical Greek Jars

Materials

Terracotta

Large Turkish Vintage Olive Jar, 19th Century

$1,495

H 29.5 in Dm 13.5 in

Large Turkish Vintage Olive Jar, 19th Century

Located in Ventura, CA

Large Turkish Vintage Olive Jar, 19th Century This striking large-sized Turkish olive jar, with origins dating back to at least the 17th century ...

Category

19th Century Portuguese Antique Classical Greek Jars

Materials

Terracotta

Floor Jar Large Mediterranean Terracotta , Handmade in Greece, Early 20th

$1,427

H 37.41 in Dm 25.99 in

Floor Jar Large Mediterranean Terracotta , Handmade in Greece, Early 20th

Located in Kastrup, DK

Large Mediterranean floor jar (95 cm high) in terracotta. Handmade in Greece, early 20th century. In excellent condition with a lovely patina. Highly decorative – ideal for garden o...

Category

Early 20th Century Greek Classical Greek Jars

Materials

Terracotta

Antique Handcrafted Stoneware Jug, Unique Balkan Clay Vessel, 1800s

$565

H 19.3 in W 8.67 in D 8.67 in

Antique Handcrafted Stoneware Jug, Unique Balkan Clay Vessel, 1800s

Located in Andernach, DE

Antique hand crafted and unique stoneware jug with a square belly and round base. The jug comes with a round screw cap. Possibly Balkan area or Italy, around 1800s to 1900. Beautiful...

Category

Late 19th Century Greek Antique Classical Greek Jars

Materials

Clay, Terracotta

Amphora in the Style of Ancient Greece, Italy, Early 1900s

$1,513

H 18.9 in Dm 11.82 in

Amphora in the Style of Ancient Greece, Italy, Early 1900s

Located in London, GB

This decorative amphora, produced in Italy in the early 20th century, draws inspiration from the celebrated traditions of ancient Greek pottery. Crafted in terracotta and finished wi...

Category

Early 20th Century Italian Classical Greek Jars

Materials

Ceramic

19th Century Greek Terracotta Olive Oil Jar, Handcrafted Ribbed Design

$4,300

H 37 in W 29 in D 29 in

19th Century Greek Terracotta Olive Oil Jar, Handcrafted Ribbed Design

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

A late 19th-century Greek Peloponnese olive oil jar with the typical handcrafted ribbed Nekuma decoration on its round bodice handmade in terracotta clay. These antique garden potter...

Category

Late 19th Century Greek Antique Classical Greek Jars

Materials

Terracotta

Danish 19th Century Ancient Greek Style Cast Iron Vase

$1,884

H 13.78 in Dm 10.24 in

Danish 19th Century Ancient Greek Style Cast Iron Vase

Located in Kastrup, DK

Cast iron vase in the ancient style. Black, red and burnt orange decorations. In original and untouched condition with beautiful patina consistent with age and use. Very decorative...

Category

Late 19th Century Danish Antique Classical Greek Jars

Materials

Metal

Ancient Greek Female sculpture in terracotta

$4,123

H 6.5 in W 2.56 in D 2.01 in

Ancient Greek Female sculpture in terracotta

Located in BARCELONA, ES

Provenance Private collection, Miklos Bokor (Budapest, 1927 - Paris, 2019), Paris, France. Documents - Attached is thermoluminescence test. At the end of the 4th century BC, a styl...

Category

15th Century and Earlier Greek Antique Classical Greek Jars

Materials

Terracotta

Neolithic Vessel

$4,000

H 12.5 in W 6 in D 6 in

Neolithic Vessel

Located in Chicago, IL

Northern China has a settled history that goes back more than 5,000 years. All along the western reaches of the Yellow River settlements sprung up and some of the first evidence we h...

Category

15th Century and Earlier Chinese Antique Classical Greek Jars

Materials

Terracotta

A Greek Black Figure Style Grand Tour Lekythos, 19th Century

$2,100

H 8.08 in Dm 3.94 in

A Greek Black Figure Style Grand Tour Lekythos, 19th Century

Located in ARMADALE, VIC

A Greek Black Figure Style Grand Tour Lekythos, 19th Century Description: A narrow body, a single handle attached to the neck, and a flared base and lip. Lekythoi were primarily use...

Category

19th Century Greek Antique Classical Greek Jars

Materials

Terracotta

A Greek Black Figure Style Grand Tour Squat Lekythos, 19th Century

$2,100

H 9.26 in Dm 5.52 in

A Greek Black Figure Style Grand Tour Squat Lekythos, 19th Century

Located in ARMADALE, VIC

A Greek Black Figure Style Grand Tour Squat Lekythos, 19th Century Description: A single handle attached to the neck, and a narrow neck with a loop-shaped handle, and a trumpet-sha...

Category

19th Century Greek Antique Classical Greek Jars

Materials

Terracotta

Large Painted Terracotta Olive Jar

$756

H 27 in Dm 20 in

Large Painted Terracotta Olive Jar

Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire

Large early 20th C painted terracotta olive jar. Would make a great lamp base. 1910. Reference: 8178 Dimensions 27 inches (69 cms) High 20 inches (51 cms) Diameter

Category

Early 20th Century Classical Greek Jars

Materials

Terracotta

Large Attic Style Red-Figure Hydria Museum Copy After Ancient Greek Pottery

$6,500

H 19 in Dm 12 in

Large Attic Style Red-Figure Hydria Museum Copy After Ancient Greek Pottery

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Impressive large-scale Attic style red-figure pottery hydria inspired by classical Greek antiquity, beautifully hand-painted with elaborate mythological scenes in the traditional bla...

Category

20th Century Greek Classical Greek Jars

Materials

Ceramic

Previously Available Items

Large Greek Olive Jar with Metal Stand

Sold

H 48 in Dm 36 in

Large Greek Olive Jar with Metal Stand

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Beautiful large 1930s Greek Olive Jar with metal stand. The height includes a 10" tall metal stand.

Category

Mid-20th Century Greek Classical Greek Jars

Materials

Terracotta

French Greek Revival Porcelain Apothecary Jar

Sold

H 13 in Dm 6 in

French Greek Revival Porcelain Apothecary Jar

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

French Greek Revival Porcelain Apothecary jar, decorated front and back with two different vignettes, with Greek Key and medallion surrounds, ...

Category

20th Century French Classical Greek Jars

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Amphora Vases in Green Earthenware, Beginning 20th Century

Sold

H 16.54 in Dm 4.73 in

Pair of Amphora Vases in Green Earthenware, Beginning 20th Century

Located in Saint-Ouen, FR

Pair of amphora vases in green earthenware with geometrical shape handles. Work realized at the beginning of the 20th century.

Category

Early 20th Century European Classical Greek Jars

Materials

Earthenware

Ancient Cypriot Bronze Age Amphora, 2700 BC

Sold

H 9.5 in Dm 7 in

Ancient Cypriot Bronze Age Amphora, 2700 BC

Located in London, GB

A large red polished ware Cypriot amphora, originally from the collection of General Luigi Palma di Cesnola (1832-1904). Dating to the early Bronze Age...

Category

15th Century and Earlier European Antique Classical Greek Jars

Materials

Pottery

Ancient Cypriot Middle Bronze Age Bull Jug, 1900 BC

Sold

H 8 in Dm 6.5 in

Ancient Cypriot Middle Bronze Age Bull Jug, 1900 BC

Located in London, GB

A pottery jug from Cyprus dating to the Middle Bronze Age, circa 1900-1650 BC. Of typical drab/red polished ware, with rounded base and bulbous body, wide, cylindrical neck and with two pointed, vertical handles, positioned either side. Decorated throughout with beautiful, lime filled incised decorations; a combination of lines and circles. One of the most iconic Cypriot ceramic types. The people of bronze age Cyprus...

Category

15th Century and Earlier Greek Antique Classical Greek Jars

Materials

Pottery

Ancient Greek Cypriot Geometric Black Jug, 950 BC

Sold

H 5.5 in W 4 in D 4 in

Ancient Greek Cypriot Geometric Black Jug, 950 BC

Located in London, GB

A fine example of an ancient Cypro-Geometric black slip ware jug, dating to around 950 - 800 BC. These characteristically Cypriot vessels are sometimes re...

Category

15th Century and Earlier Antique Classical Greek Jars

Classical Greek jars for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Classical Greek jars for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage jars created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, terracotta and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Classical Greek jars made in a specific country, there are Europe, Balkan Peninsula, and France pieces for sale on 1stDibs. 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 jars differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $950 and tops out at $3,600 while the average work can sell for $995.