Classical Greek Pitchers

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

Middle Bronze Age Ancient Israel Terracotta Vessel on Lucite Museum Support

$2,475

Middle Bronze Age Ancient Israel Terracotta Vessel on Lucite Museum Support

Located in New York, NY

This Middle Bronze Age terracotta vessel, dating to approximately 1850-1550 BCE and originating from ancient Israel, is a striking example of craftsmanship from a period rich in cult...

Category

15th Century and Earlier Israeli Antique Classical Greek Pitchers

Materials

Terracotta

Ermanno Nason for Vetreria Cenedese, Scavo Glass Vase, Italy, 1964

$14,000

Ermanno Nason for Vetreria Cenedese, Scavo Glass Vase, Italy, 1964

By Ermanno Nason

Located in New York, NY

Provenance: Archive of Cenedese Glassworks, Murano, Italy. Ermanno Nason designed this beautiful scavo glass vase for Vetreria Gino Cenedese in 1964. It is inspired by Greek vase...

Category

1960s Italian Vintage Classical Greek Pitchers

Materials

Glass

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 Pitchers

Materials

Terracotta

Signed Cenedese 'a Scavo' Red, Yellow & Black Italian Murano Glass Vase 1989

$4,075

H 6.58 in W 7.29 in D 4.85 in

Signed Cenedese 'a Scavo' Red, Yellow & Black Italian Murano Glass Vase 1989

By Cenedese

Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern

Stunning Italian signed Cenedese Murano art glass vase or vessel with a wonderful modernist form made by Gino Cenedese e Figlio. An absolutely mesmerising piece of midcentury Venetian glass featuring a stunning range of glass masterwork techniques including the 'A Scavo' technique to give the piece the look and feel of excavated ancient Roman glass and also applied 'pinstripe' ribbons of colourful...

Category

Late 20th Century Italian Classical Greek Pitchers

Materials

Blown Glass, Murano Glass

French 18th Century Large Scale Copper Pitcher

$725

H 13 in W 12 in D 14.25 in

French 18th Century Large Scale Copper Pitcher

Located in Round Top, TX

A very charming French large scale copper pitcher. A terrific kitchen island oraccessory.

Category

18th Century French Antique Classical Greek Pitchers

Materials

Copper

Extremely Rare Georgian Peacock Green Drinking Vessel

$3,827

H 14.57 in Dm 7.09 in

Extremely Rare Georgian Peacock Green Drinking Vessel

Located in Steyning, West sussex

An extremely rare Georgian peacock green drinking vessel with six finger hole and lid. The vessel is very similar in design to earlier German vessels one of which can be seen at the...

Category

1790s English Antique Classical Greek Pitchers

Materials

Glass

Middle Eastern Islamic Turkish Ottoman Tinned Copper Ewer

$1,850

H 20 in W 12 in D 8 in

Middle Eastern Islamic Turkish Ottoman Tinned Copper Ewer

Located in Moreno Valley, CA

Handcrafted antique 19th century Islamic Turkish Ottoman tinned copper ceremonial water ewer. Antique Middle Eastern Asian Islamic style ewer jug metalware vessel. The bulbous body...

Category

19th Century Turkish Antique Classical Greek Pitchers

Materials

Copper, Tin, Pewter

Ermanno Nason Vintage Mid-Century Italian Murano Pink Glass Koi Fish Sculpture

$2,095

H 6.3 in W 5.32 in D 2.37 in

Ermanno Nason Vintage Mid-Century Italian Murano Pink Glass Koi Fish Sculpture

By Cenedese, Ermanno Nason

Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern

Stunning, rare and vintage midcentury centrepiece glass sculpture by Ermanno Nason (1928-2014) for Cenedese of Murano, Venice, Italy. An absolutely stunning piece of Mid-Century Mura...

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Classical Greek Pitchers

Materials

Blown Glass, Murano Glass

19th Century Glazed Earthenware Talavera Floral Painted Pitcher

$1,390

H 11 in W 5.5 in D 6 in

19th Century Glazed Earthenware Talavera Floral Painted Pitcher

Located in Miami, FL

A striking Spanish glazed earthenware handled yellow, green and blue painted pitcher, the body underglaze floral decorated Talavera de la Reina pottery is a craft made in Talaver...

Category

Mid-20th Century Spanish Classical Greek Pitchers

Materials

Ceramic

Large Antique Nippon Styled Ewer or Pitcher with Ornate Moriage Decoration

$999

H 11.5 in W 6 in D 7 in

Large Antique Nippon Styled Ewer or Pitcher with Ornate Moriage Decoration

By Nippon Sento Company Ltd

Located in Hamilton, Ontario

This large antique and ornately decorated ewer is unsigned, but believed to have been made by the Nippon Company of Japan in approximately 1900 in an Anglo-Japanese style. The pitche...

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Classical Greek Pitchers

Materials

Porcelain

Wedgwood Jasperware Blue White Pitcher Vase Greek Key Neoclassical English

$788Sale Price|20% Off

H 7 in W 5 in D 5 in

Wedgwood Jasperware Blue White Pitcher Vase Greek Key Neoclassical English

By Wedgwood

Located in New York, NY

A beautiful cobalt blue and white Jasperware pitcher, with Greek-Key boarders, in the Neoclassical design style, by Wedgwood, circa early-20th century, 1930s - 1940s, England. Pitch...

Category

Early 20th Century English Classical Greek Pitchers

Materials

Stoneware

Spanish Green Terracotta Handled Jug Vase / Pitcher / Vessel, 1950s

$2,154

H 6.5 in W 7.09 in D 6.3 in

Spanish Green Terracotta Handled Jug Vase / Pitcher / Vessel, 1950s

Located in Barcelona, ES

Stunning Iberian style handled jug vase, jar or vessel in green unglazed terracotta. Spain, 1940s Catalan unglazed vase in green terracotta. Elegant piece, beautiful from all sides a...

Category

20th Century Spanish Classical Greek Pitchers

Materials

Earthenware, Terracotta, Ceramic

Vintage Middle Eastern Arabic Brass Dallah Bedouin Tea Coffee Pot 12"

$385Sale Price|30% Off

H 12 in Dm 5.5 in

Vintage Middle Eastern Arabic Brass Dallah Bedouin Tea Coffee Pot 12"

Located in Dayton, OH

Antique Middle Eastern etched Arabic brass dallah / coffee pot with long spout, flip top lid, and two tone woven leather wrapped handle. Dimensions: 12" ...

Category

20th Century Unknown Classical Greek Pitchers

Materials

Brass

Spanish Terracotta Erotic Pitcher

$1,507

H 9.65 in W 8.27 in D 6.3 in

Spanish Terracotta Erotic Pitcher

Located in Barcelona, ES

Spanish Terracotta Erotic Pitcher Man Phallic Design, Spain, 1960s. Handcrafted glazed terracotta ceramic phallic pitcher features a jug form as a m...

Category

20th Century Spanish Classical Greek Pitchers

Materials

Earthenware, Majolica, Terracotta

Huge Ermanno Nason Vintage Mid-Century Italian Blue Murano Glass Fish Sculpture

$4,191

H 10.63 in W 13.39 in D 3.94 in

Huge Ermanno Nason Vintage Mid-Century Italian Blue Murano Glass Fish Sculpture

By Ermanno Nason, Cenedese

Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern

Huge, stunning, rare and vintage midcentury centrepiece glass sculpture by Ermanno Nason (1928-2013) for Cenedese of Murano, Venice, Italy, somewhere between the years 1965-1972. An ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Classical Greek Pitchers

Materials

Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Previously Available Items

Wedgwood Jasperware Jug or Pitcher Classical Figures Fully Marked, circa 1900

Sold

H 6.15 in W 7.25 in D 5.15 in

Wedgwood Jasperware Jug or Pitcher Classical Figures Fully Marked, circa 1900

By Wedgwood

Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire

This is a good Jasperware stoneware jug or pitcher, made by Wedgwood, England and dating to circa 1900. The jug has a lovely shape with a pouring spout and loop handle. The jug has a classical figures pattern, the figures being applied relief moulded white sprigs, against the blue matt ground color This piece is fully marked to the base with the upper case "WEDGWOOD" impressed mark and ENGLAND dating the piece between 1891 to 1908. Overall a beautiful Wedgwood jug.

Category

Late 19th Century British Antique Classical Greek Pitchers

Materials

Pottery, Stoneware

Wedgwood Jasperware Jug or Pitcher Classical Figures Fully Marked, circa 1900

Sold

H 4.88 in W 6 in D 4.5 in

Wedgwood Jasperware Jug or Pitcher Classical Figures Fully Marked, circa 1900

By Wedgwood

Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire

Category

Late 19th Century British Antique Classical Greek Pitchers

Materials

Pottery, Stoneware

Pair of Classical Figural Bronze Neoclassical Ewers, 19th Century

Sold

H 18 in Dm 4 in

Pair of Classical Figural Bronze Neoclassical Ewers, 19th Century

Located in Stamford, CT

Pair of Classical figurative bronze neoclassical ewers, 19th-early 20th century. Each depicting Grecian woman water bearers along with female torsos having...

Category

1910s Vintage Classical Greek Pitchers

Materials

Bronze

Monumental Classical Greek Figural High Relief Bronze Floor Ewer with Cherubs

Sold

H 35 in Dm 16 in

Monumental Classical Greek Figural High Relief Bronze Floor Ewer with Cherubs

Located in Big Flats, NY

Monumental Greek Baroque ewer features bronze construction with allover high relief grape and vine decoration with reserves of cherub scenes, vessel cupp...

Category

19th Century Greek Antique Classical Greek Pitchers

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Large Pair of Vases à l'Antique in Barbedienne Taste

Sold

H 24.02 in Dm 8.27 in

19th Century Large Pair of Vases à l'Antique in Barbedienne Taste

By Ferdinand Barbedienne

Located in Paris, FR

Large pair of bronze vases with gold patina after the antique, in the taste of Ferdinand Barbedienne. The paunch is decorated with two registers, the upper one features two processio...

Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Classical Greek Pitchers

Materials

Bronze

Classical Greek pitchers for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Classical Greek pitchers 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 pitchers created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Classical Greek pitchers made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original pitchers, popular names associated with this style include Ermanno Nason, and Wedgwood. 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 pitchers differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $474 and tops out at $14,000 while the average work can sell for $910.