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.
Elegant Classical Richard Ginori Serving Dish
Located in New York, NY
Covered dish with cobalt blue and gold trim, on white ceramic ground. Elegant design and proportions, perfect condition, and fully and correctly marked.
Ceramic
Vintage Piero Fornasetti "Recipe" Plates Set of Three, Porcelain 1950's. Italy
By Fornasetti
Located in North Miami, FL
These delightful hallmarked set of three vintage Italian Mid-Century Modern Piero Fornasetti recipe plates are amusing and unusual. One is for...
Porcelain
Vintage Roman Classical Style Figural Cast Iron Twin Handle Charger Dish
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Roman Classical Style Figural Cast Iron Twin Handle Charger Dish. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 1.5" H x 13.75" W x 10.75" D.
Iron
$445
H 1.75 in W 8 in D 11.25 in
English Majolica Greenware Acorn Oak Leaf Twig Handled Deep Dish Server
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A Majolica green glazed leaf pattern deep server, England, circa 1870. A serrate edged rectangular platter with open work twig form double handles. Beautiful mold work showing four ...
Earthenware
Rosenthal Porcelain Tureen Serving Dish Cobalt and Gold
By Rosenthal
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Very nice vintage Rosenthal tureen.
Piero Fornasetti Tema E Variazioni Porcelain Plate #78
By Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Piero Fornasetti "Tema e Variazioni" porcelain plate depicting the face of the famous opera singer Lina Cavalieri, no.78 / made in Milano Italy circa 1960. Original mark on t...
Porcelain
Small English Green Majolica Leaf Handled Dish circa 1890
Located in Austin, TX
Small English Green Majolica Leaf Handled Dish circa 1890
Ceramic
$1,770Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 23.63 in W 31.5 in D 23.63 in
China Dinner Service for 6 by Richard Ginori Black Onice Rim, Gold Trim & Verge
Located in Roma, IT
A Tableware set in very fine porcelain made in Italy between the 60s and 70s by the Doccia factory "Richard Ginori". Richard Ginori is an historic Italian ceramic's factory founded in Tuscany, in Sesto Fiorentino, near Florence, of which Gio Ponti was creative director for 10 years. This dinnerware is part of a Manufacture collection inspired by the elegant lines of the Empire style and which was out of stock for a long time. Now, the new ownership of the brand, recently purchased by the Gucci Group, has included the Contessa collection back in the range but without the subtle tone-on-tone trim that embellished the gold encrusted rim. We could say that this vintage dinner service...
Porcelain
Ancient Greek Style Charger With Olympian Runners
Located in Stamford, CT
Ancient Greek style charger of platter depicting two Olympic runner competing in a race. Beautifully painted in red and black on a yellow ground, with decorative bands, including the...
Pottery, Paint
Piero Fornasetti Al Merito Porcelain Coasters Set of Seven, Italy
Located in Astoria, NY
Set of Seven Piero Fornasetti "Al Merito" Porcelain Coasters, with painted embellishments to the lithograph medals, marked "Al Merito / Fornasetti Milano / Made in Italy" to the unde...
Porcelain
1970s Set of Vintage Porcelain Plates, by Piero Fornasetti
Located in Roma, IT
1970s plate, Calendar series is a set of 9 silk-screened porcelain plate, designed by Piero Fornasetti during the 1970s from the Calendario series, the Happy New Year dishes series. It includes all the years except 1977. Good conditions. Black and white ceramic Fornasetti wall plate...
Porcelain
$1,036Sale Price|20% Off
H 4.5 in W 12.5 in D 12.5 in
19th Century Meissen Blue Onion, Handled Three Section Shell Dish
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
19th Century Meissen Blue Onion, Handled Three-Section Shell Dish Germany, late 19th century A large and magnificent 19th-century Meissen Blue Onion-handled three-section shell dis...
Porcelain
$796Sale Price|20% Off
H 9 in W 19.38 in D 13 in
Massive Victorian Era Cast Iron Dutch Oven Turn of Century Vintage Cabin Modern
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Very Large. Foundry marked, CA 40 Total W 19 3/8 x Total D 13 x Total H 9 in. Interior W 15.5 x D 12.25 x H 6.75 in. c. 14 Quarts
Iron
Fornasetti Calender Plate 2009 Porcelain n. 42 Italy
By Fornasetti
Located in Long Island, NY
Fornasetti Calender Plate 2009 . Porcelain n.42 ,Made in Italy .
Porcelain
Piero Fornasetti Italian Racehorse Champions Plates
Located in Downingtown, PA
Piero Fornasetti Italian Racehorse Champions Plates, Great Italian Equestrian Champions, "Grandi Campioni Italian Del Galoppo, Circa 1950's. The plates, numbered consecutively from ...
Porcelain
Large Footed Brass Service Tray for Bar or Table
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Exceptional brass handled footed tray for service or use for bar. Hammered tray with grapevine trimmed edge. Large piece measuring 31in long x 17in wide x 2in tall. Warm aged pati...
Brass, Copper
Sold
H 1 in W 8 in D 9 in
Six Italian Piero Fornasetti Malachite & Gilded Porcelain "Stoviglia" Plates
By Fornasetti
Located in North Miami, FL
Set of six fabulous Fornasetti malachite designed porcelain with gilded forms of tabletop serving pieces. Signed Stovigilie Fornasetti Milano mad...
Gold
Fornasetti Style Bucciarelli Porcelain Plates Set of 2 Italian
By Bucciarelli
Located in North Miami, FL
These two Italian Mid-Century Modern gold painted porcelain plates are in the style of Piero Fornasetti. They are signed almost like Fornasetti. Bucciarelli was a Milano based porcel...
Gold
Pair of Piero Fornasetti Hot Air Balloon Race Porcelain Plates Vintage
By Fornasetti, Rosenthal
Located in North Miami, FL
This pair of Piero Fornasetti for Rosenthal Germany porcelain plates are identical and are whimsical. They are for a hot air balloon race from 1784. Fun a...
Porcelain
Italian Vintage Fornasetti Porcelain "Sezioni Di Frutta" Plate
By Fornasetti
Located in North Miami, FL
The luscious fruit of the pomegranate is depicted in great visual color in this hallmarked Fornasetti porcelain vintage plate. It is titled "Sezioni di Frutta...
Porcelain