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.
Greek Pottery Ashtray
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Vintage Greek Pottery Ashtray, hand painted and signed by artist. It was brought back from a trip to Greece in the 70's era. A great vintage souvenir with artists markings on reverse...
Clay
Greek Goddess Aphrodite Classical Greek Style Ceramic Ashtray or Catchall
Located in New York, NY
A ceramic ashtray or vide-poche catch-all with Greek Goddess, Aphroditie, in the classical Greek style, circa mid-20th century, Greece. Piece is ...
Ceramic
$743
H 1.19 in W 5.12 in D 1.19 in
Decorative Green Animal Ceramic Cup or Ashtray by Accolay, circa 1960
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
Elegant and decorative animal ceramic cup or ashtray. Original green ceramic glaze color and black decoration Signed under the base Original perfect conditions Measures: ...
Ceramic
$260Sale Price|20% Off
H 1.25 in Dm 9.75 in
1964 Robert Maxwell California Design Studio Art Pottery Ashtray w/Crackle Glass
By Robert Maxwell and David Cressey, Robert Maxwell
Located in San Diego, CA
Great California studio pottery ashtray by Robert Maxwell, circa 1965. The ashtray has red crackle glass in the center. Signed on the bottom by the artist. Very unique design and for...
Pottery
$360
H 1.96 in W 4 in D 3.54 in
1960s Mid-century Pink Ashtray or Catchall in Bullicante Murano Glass by Flavio
By Flavio Poli
Located in Milano, IT
1960s Mid-century Pink Ashtray or Catchall in Bullicante Murano Glass by Flavio Poli. This hand-blown glass piece radiates in a vivid pink palette, elevated by the complex bullicante...
Murano Glass
$360
H 2.36 in W 5.51 in D 5.11 in
1960s Mid-century Blue Ashtray or Catchall in Bullicante Murano Glass by Flavio
By Flavio Poli
Located in Milano, IT
1960s This blue ashtray/catchall is a stunning example of Mid-Century Modern Italian glassmaking, sculptural bowl/ashtray was designed by the legendary Flavio Poli . This piece featu...
Murano Glass
Georges Jouve and Mathieu Matégot Style Ceramic Standing Ashtray
By Georges Jouve, Mathieu Matégot
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sculptural catchall in the style of Matégot and Georges Jouve. Iron frame with circular base and circular top. Yellow and green ceramic dish sits in...
Iron
$380
H 2.36 in W 3.54 in D 3.54 in
1960s Stunning Large Green and Yellow Ashtray/Bowl/Catchall By Flavio Poli for S
By Flavio Poli
Located in Milano, IT
1960s Gorgeous grey ashtray or catchall by Flavio Poli for Seguso in Murano sommerso glass. Made in italy. This piece exemplifies the iconic sommerso (submerged) glass technique. Fe...
Murano Glass
$360
H 1.96 in W 3.93 in D 3.93 in
1960s Mid-century Red Ashtray or Catchall in Bullicante Murano Glass by Flavio
By Flavio Poli
Located in Milano, IT
1960s Gorgeous red ashtray or catchall by Flavio Poli for Seguso in Bullicante Murano Glass. Made in Italy The item is in excellent condition. Dimension: 3,93 diameter x 1,96 H inche...
Murano Glass
Red Murano Ashtray or Bowl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage red triangular Murano glass ashtray or candy bowl / Made in Italy, circa 1960s Measures: diameter 6 inches, height 3 inches Order Reference #: FABIOLTD G195 This piece make...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
$628
H 0.79 in W 6.89 in D 7.09 in
Pietro Chiesa Hammered Nile Green Crystal Ashtray or Catchall, Italy 1950s
By Fontana Arte, Pietro Chiesa
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful nile green hammered crystal ashtray or catchall. This charming piece is attributed to the mastery of Pietro Chiesa and was produced in Italy during the 1950s. This squar...
Crystal
Vallauris Multicolor Ceramic Fat Lava Round Bowl or Ashtray
By Vallauris
Located in Barcelona, ES
Large Mid-Century Vallauris ashtray / bowl in multicolor glazed ceramic. Beautiful fat lava glazed ceramic ashtray in brown, pink purple and red colors. Manufactured by Vallauris. France, 1950s. This cool ashtray was handcrafted in France at the Mid-20th century period. Hand-crafted piece in shades of orange red, pink purple, ochre and green ceramic on a brown background with fat lava effect. It has four cigarrette or cigars holders. Highly decorative piece! This colorful piece will be the perfect gift for smokers. Also useful as jewelry bowl , decorative bowl or vide-poche. Overall Measures: 19 cm diameter x 9 cm height (7,48 in diameter x 3,54 in height). Vallauris Ceramic Round Bowl // Glazed Ceramic Fat Lava Bowl...
Ceramic, Majolica
Unavailable|$460
H 3.54 in Dm 5.9 in
1960s Stunning Large Green and Yellow Ashtray/Bowl/Catchall By Flavio Poli for S
By Flavio Poli
Located in Milano, IT
1960s Stunning big green and yellow ashtray, bowl, catchall By Flavio Poli for Seguso. Crafted using the iconic Sommerso (submerged) technique, this piece showcases a brilliant inter...
Murano Glass
$380
H 1.96 in Dm 4.72 in
1960s Gorgeous Ashtray or Catchall in Bullicante Murano Glass by Flavio Poli
By Flavio Poli
Located in Milano, IT
1960s Gorgeous ashtray or catchall by Flavio Poli for Seguso in Bullicante Murano Glass. Made in Italy The item is in prestine excellent condition. Dimension: 4,72 diameter x 1,96 H ...
Murano Glass
Antique Bronze Ashtray with Patina, Rare Antique Edition
Located in Bastogne, BE
Antique Bronze ashtray with patina. Very interesting thing for collectors. Diameter: 4.3 inch 10 cm. Worldwide delivery from Belgium. I have provided a lot of pictures to ...
Bronze