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.
Ancient Classical Style Antique Iridescent Glass Bottle
Located in New York, NY
Antique classical style glass bottle on lucite stand Lucite base holder Measures. 3.4" x 4.2" x 1.8"L.
Blown Glass
$7,507
A Roman purple glass jug
Located in UTRECHT, UT
A jug with a bell-shaped body and clover lip, a green trailed handle and a green collar in the middle of the cylindrical neck. 12.4 cm (h) Intact Provenance: Ex C.A. Hessing Collection, coll. no.57 Ex Anonymous sale; Bonhams, London, 22 September 1998, lot 226 Published: Sheppard & Cooper Ltd, Glass: The Eighth Wonder of the Ancient World, London, 1994, p.14, no.75. Roman glass was used primarily for the production of vessels. It developed from Hellenistic technical traditions, initially concentrating on the production of intensely coloured cast glass vessels...
Glass
Ochre Millefiori Glass Plate by Ercole Moretti
Located in Palm Desert, CA
An intricately detailed glass dish by Ercole Moretti with close-packed complex millefiori glass mosaic beads. The millefiori (or murrini) technique ...
Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Art Glass
Roman Turquoise-Blue Glass Cup
Located in London, GB
This vibrant, exquisitely well-preserved piece of Roman glassware, with a gently flared lip and cone-shaped foot, was hand blown 2000 years ago. Its maker, evidently an artisan of pa...
Glass
Roman Period Glass Vessel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This light blue glass jar from the Roman period features beautifully executed ribbons that gently swirl around the body of the jar. It has a rounded body, narrowing into a thick neck...
Glass
A Late Roman turquoise glass rod-formed balsamarium
Located in UTRECHT, UT
Glass balsamarium with a twisted tubular body, tapering towards the applied disc base, with two trailed handles 12.0 cm (h) Provenance: Ex anonymous Sale; Pierre Bergé Auctioneers, Paris, 17 January 2009, lot 38 Roman glass was used primarily for the production of vessels. It developed from Hellenistic technical traditions, initially concentrating on the production of intensely coloured cast glass...
Glass
A Roman yellow glass unguentarium
Located in UTRECHT, UT
Belly-shaped with cylindrical neck and with folded down collar rim, the unguentarium with twisted glass decoration with white intertwining the main yellow colour 4.5 cm (h) Intact Ex. German private collection H.G., collected between 1970s-1990s Roman glass was used primarily for the production of vessels. It developed from Hellenistic technical traditions, initially concentrating on the production of intensely coloured cast glass vessels...
Glass
Handblown Glass Sunrise Sunset Cup 4
By Fort Makers
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Surrealist-inspired sunrise sunset cups are hand blown in a kaleidoscope of ombre colors and adorned with contrasting orb handles to evoke a looking glass, a glimpse into a miniature...
Blown Glass
Sunrise Sunset Cup 5 Handblown Glass Tumbler
By Fort Makers
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Surrealist-inspired sunrise sunset cups are hand blown in a kaleidoscope of ombre colors and adorned with contrasting orb handles to evoke a looking glass, a glimpse into a miniature...
Blown Glass
Handblown Glass Sunrise Sunset Cup 10
By Fort Makers
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Surrealist-inspired sunrise sunset cups are hand blown in a kaleidoscope of ombre colors and adorned with contrasting orb handles to evoke a looking glass, a glimpse into a miniature...
Blown Glass
Murano Glass Jewel Tone Sommerso Style Round Perfume Bottle
Located in Troy, MI
New Murano glass round perfume bottle features heavy, clear class with sommerso-style jewel-toned layers of fuchsia, violet and berry. Top has a scent...
Murano Glass
French Cut Glass Vase, Antique Style Glass Vase
Located in Miami, FL
A fine French cut glass vase, showcasing elegant craftsmanship and timeless style. This piece reflects the tradition of French art glass from the earl...
Cut Glass, Glass
Loetz Art Nouveau Four Handled Phaenomen Iridescent Art Glass Vase
By Loetz Glass
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
An exceptional and rare Bohemian art nouveau Phenomen Genre 2/484 (also known as Medici) pattern Loetz vase dating from around 1902. This beautiful vase stands on a rounded spread fo...
Blown Glass
$485
H 4.14 in W 2.17 in D 2.17 in
Antique Tipple Decanter, English, Glass, Silver, Small Spirit Vessel, Hallmarked
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique tipple decanter. An English, glass and silver collared small spirit vessel, hallmarked to the early 20th century, dated 1922. Tactile and petite - a pleasingly ...
Glass
Quality Antique Silver Plated & Cut Glass Claret Jug
Located in Ipswich, GB
Quality early 20th Century antique silver plated and cut glass claret jug having a quality ornate top with a lift up lid with pineapple shaped finial, shaped handle on a quality cut ...
Silver Plate
Midcentury Murano Glass Lidded Vessel with Gold Inclusions
Located in Troy, MI
Midcentury Murano glass tall lidded vessel in clear glass embellished with gold inclusions. Unknown maker. Excellent vintage condition with no flaws found. Minor scattered surface wear.
Murano Glass
Fontana Arte Glass/ Crystal, Dish, Vide-Poche, Free Form Shape Signed FX
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very pretty signed Fontana Arte, vide-poche. We think is Max Ingrand design.Also Pietro Chiesa worked at Fontana's at same time. Signed with FX and acid Fontana Italy.
Art Glass, Glass
$132
H 5.32 in W 1.97 in D 1.97 in
Small 1970s Mid Century Italian Murano Blue & Turquoise Sommerso Glass Vase
Located in London, England
A very unusual and Murano blue and turquoise glass vase. The original round foil sticker is visible on one side marked: Murano Made In Italy. A beautiful decorative piece perfect for a glass display case or shelf where the light can shine through it to emphasise the beautiful and almost luminous two-tone coloured glass. The vase is made in the Sommerso (submerged) style with darker royal blue glass submerged inside lighter turquoise clear glass...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
Glass Claret Jug with Pewter Mount, circa 1790
Located in Tunbridge Wells, GB
Pewter Mounted Glass Claret Jug, circa 1790 Additional Information: Date: c1790 Origin: Probably Bohemia or Germany Colour: Clear Stopper: Pewter lid Neck: Slice cut neck wi...
Pewter
A Roman Blue Glass Bowl, Hellenistic Period, 1st Century B.C.
Located in PARIS, FR
A Roman blue glass bowl, Hellenistic period, 1st century B.C. A blue cast glass, iridescent, engraved with two circles. 17,2 cm diameter.
Glass
Two Antique Roman Glass Vases, 18th Century
Located in Big Flats, NY
Two Antique Roman Glass Vases, 18thC Measure - Taller 6.25"h x 2"daim; Shorter 7"h x 2.75"diam
Glass
A Roman Glass Jug 4th Century
Located in Tunbridge Wells, GB
Heading : A Roman Glass Jug Date : 4th century Origin : Campania or Po Valley Italy Bowl Features : Everted and floded rim. The ribbed strap handle has...
Glass
1940s Blue Scavo Amphora
Located in Florence, Tuscany
1940s Pale Blue triple handled scavo glass Amphora found in a private home in Umbria. The scavo technique literally translates as 'excavated' and it was introduced in the 1940s to cr...
Blown Glass
Two Late 19th Century Glass Vases in the Roman Taste
Located in London, GB
Two late nineteenth century glass vases in the Roman taste, one light blue with serpentine glass mount to the neck, with flared rim and one ha...
Glass
Ancient Roman Glass Bottle, 350 AD
Located in London, GB
A Roman glass bottle, dating to the 3rd-4th century AD. Blown from pale green glass with streaks of purple. Of elegant form, with thick circular...
Glass
Sold
H 5.5 in W 4 in D 3 in
Extensive Blue Venetian Glass Service, 75 Pieces, Antique With Great Shape
By Salviati
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A wonderful collection of blown glass attributed to the Isle of Murano Venice factory, Salviati. The prettiest shade of blue and whimsical pedestal bases and shaped bowls make these ...
Blown Glass
Large Ancient Roman Green Glass Vessel, 250 AD
Located in London, GB
A large ancient Roman green glass Amphora from the Near East, dating to the 3rd century AD. Free blown and sitting on a slightly indented base, ...
Blown Glass
Ancient Roman Aubergine Glass Bottle, 200 AD
Located in London, GB
A beautiful ancient Roman glass bottle, in excellent condition, dating to the 2nd-3rd century AD. Free blown from a wonderful piece of au...
Ancient Roman Glass Bottle, 150 AD
Located in London, GB
An elegant ancient Roman glass bottle, dating to the 2nd century AD. The rounded body rises into a tall, cylindrical neck, with collared li...
Glass
Large Ancient Roman Glass Dish, 350 AD
Located in London, GB
A large and beautiful ancient Roman olive-green glass dish, dating to 350 AD. A beautifully formed dish, blown from olive green glass, with a ring base and a thick tubular lip, fo...
Glass
Large Ancient Roman Glass Dish Platter, 350 AD
Located in London, GB
An ancient Roman glass serving dish, dating to 350–500 AD. A beautifully balanced glass dish and an exceptional example of its type. Although the elite of society would eat from g...
Glass