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.
Fine 19th Century Porcelain Capodimonte Group of Cherubs and a Goat
By Capodimonte
Located in Dallas, TX
This bright Capodimonte porcelain group of four putti and a goat symbolizes abundance and the spirit of life. Capodimonte was originally an 18th century Italian porcelain...
Porcelain
Large Meissen Porcelain Figurine 'Allegory Hope', By C.G. Juechtzer, Circa 1860
By Christian Gottfried Juechtzer, Meissen Porcelain
Located in Vienna, AT
Excellent large and rare Meissen figurine from the 19th century: Youthful beauty with her hair tied up in a floor-length dress and cape that drape around her body in rich and elabora...
Porcelain
$4,950Sale Price|33% Off
German 19th Century Berlin Porcelain Kpm Covered Bacchus Tureen Centerpiece
By Royal Porzellan Bavaria KPM Germany Handarbeit.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine German 19th century Berlin porcelain covered Tureen, the finial in form of an infant Bacchus on a domed cover with molded band and painted scenes divided by floral sprays...
Porcelain
Very fine and large KPM porcelain plaque of The Three Fates
Located in London, GB
Very fine and large KPM porcelain plaque of The Three Fates German, c.1908 Frame: height 90cm, width 77cm, depth 9cm Plaques: height 53cm, width 43cm, ...
Porcelain, Wood
Science, Large Allegorical Figure, By Emmerich Andresen, Meissen Germany, c 1900
Located in Vienna, AT
Very delicate Meissen porcelain figurine around 1900: A beautiful young woman, barefoot and wearing a sleeveless dress that flows around her body, draped in cloths that cast artistic...
Porcelain
19th Century Meissen Cherub
Located in Brighton, Sussex
An enchanting late 19th Century Meissen Porcelain cherub, press two hearts together. Wonderful bold colours, blue underglaze blue crossed swo...
Porcelain
$440Sale Price|20% Off
Antique German Royal Bonn Porcelain Tapestry Vase, Classical Genre Scene, C1900
By Royal Bonn
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique German vase by Royal Bonn offers hand painted Classical genre scene with women dancing in a courtyard, maker mark on base as photographe...
Porcelain
Vienna Style Porcelain Charger of 'The Three Graces'
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality late 19th Century Vienna porcelain style charger, having wonderful classical scrolling gilded decoration to the boarders, with a scene depicting the 'Three Graces...
Porcelain
Viennese Imperial Porcelain Picture Plate Plate, Baden En Autriche, 1813
By Viennese Imperial Porcelain Manufactory
Located in Vienna, AT
Porcelain plate decorated with fine veduta painting: in the mirror octagonal picture panel against golden background, framed with matte gold painted festoons above and below the pict...
Porcelain
$1,036Sale Price|20% Off
H 6.5 in W 4.5 in D 3.25 in
Art Deco Figurine of 'Mata Hari' by Capodimonte / Naples Porcelain Company
By Capodimonte
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Art Deco Figurine of 'Mata Hari' by Capodimonte / Naples Porcelain Company Italy, circa 1925 An exceptional work, displaying grace and movement, subtly hand- painted. The seductive turban and gold earring wearing dancer draped in a White and Iron-Red Moon and Star motif garment, on a tasseled pillow. Hence our Mata Hari, attribution/suggestion. The name Mata Hari, is a Malay expression for the sun. Literally meaning “eye of the day"/ dawn of the day' This exquisite figure, depicts the The dancer (Mata Hari ?) as the sun-wearing the moon and stars. Marked with the variation Blue underglaze Crown & N. In remarkable well cared for condition, some minor wear to the gilt. The figurine stands...
Porcelain
19th Century Meissen Birdcage Grouping
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
19th Century Meissen Birdcage Grouping Germany Circa 1880 This enchanting 19th-century Meissen birdcage grouping, made in Germany circa 1880, is a re...
Porcelain
$440Sale Price|20% Off
H 3.75 in W 16.75 in D 16.75 in
Large Italian Capodimonte Porcelain Center Bowl, Cherubs Scene in Relief, 20thC
By Capodimonte
Located in Big Flats, NY
An oversized Italian Capodimonte center bowl offers cherub garden scenes in relief with gilt highlights throughout, 20th century Measures - 3.75''H X 16.75''W X 16.75''D. A finely cr...
Porcelain
$4,050
H 11.82 in W 19.69 in D 11.82 in
Porcelain Figure Group of Venus and Muses Samson 19th Century, Sevres French
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in Lantau, HK
Porcelain figure group of Venus coronation and muses Samson after the style of Sevres, hand painted pastel colors, beautifully detailed artwork 19th century, French Marked Sevres Di...
Porcelain
19th Century Meissen Hand Painted Cup and Saucer
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Diminutive whimsical 19th century Meissen cup and saucer. The purple trim with gilt decoration with birds and insects. The saucer is 5 inches in...
Porcelain
$1,995
H 0.75 in Dm 8 in
Antique KPM Hand-Painted Porcelain Cabinet Plate Depicting the Biblical "Ruth"
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique hand-painted porcelain cabinet plate was made by the renowned KPM porcelain factory of Germany in approximately 1880. The center of the plate features a depiction of the...
Porcelain
$48,500 / set
H 12 in W 12 in D 12 in
Pair 19th Century Meissen Porcelain Chinoiserie Style of Nodding Pagoda Figures
Located in New York, NY
A large rare pair of 19th century Meissen Chinoiserie style Nodding Pagoda Figures with Movable Head, Hand and Tongue, known as a "Nodder'. This Unusual...
Porcelain
19th Century Signed Meissen Porcelain Artwork
Located in Roma, IT
A wonderful late 19th-Century Meissen blue onion square hand painted porcelain dish. Printed and impressed "Meissen" mark on reverse. This fine blue onion platter exhibits excellen...
Porcelain
Large KPM Porcelain Plaque of 'Romeo and Juliet' 19th Century
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality large 19th century KPM Porcelain plaque, depicting 'Romeo and Juliet' mounted in a carved giltwood frame.
Porcelain
$3,000Sale Price|50% Off
H 11.82 in W 11.82 in D 19.69 in
Porcelain Figure Group Playing the Blind Man's Buff 19th Century, German
Located in Lantau, HK
Porcelain figure group playing the Blind man's buff Beautifully crafted artwork, hand painted 19th century, French. Dimensions: 50 x 30 x 30 cm (approximate). Shipping cost not in...
Porcelain
19th Century Italian Porcelain Centerpiece
Located in Dallas, TX
Late 19th century Italian porcelain centerpiece. Classical design depicting the four seasons.
Porcelain
$108Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 3 in W 1 in D 1.25 in
Capodimonte Glazed White Parian Porcelain Cherubs
By Capodimonte
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a pair of Capodimonte glazed white Parian porcelain nude cherubs who are playing with some gilt round small balls. Both of them are standing n...
Porcelain
Sold
H 16.93 in Dm 12.21 in
Large Meissen Porcelain Group 'Dance Of The Horae' By C. G. Starcke, Ca 1880
Located in Vienna, AT
Excellent and extremely rare museum-quality Meissen figurine group from the 19th century: Group of six fully sculpted porcelain figures, young pretty women barefoot in antique-style,...
Porcelain
Sold
H 1.86 in Dm 13.59 in
Large Viennese Imperial Porcelain Picture Plate With Arcadian Landscape, 1828
By Viennese Imperial Porcelain Manufactory
Located in Vienna, AT
Exceptionally large porcelain plate decorated with fine polychrome painting: a romantic landscape with trees and ruins filling the entire surface of the plate, in the foreground a wa...
Porcelain
Sold
H 11.42 in W 6.5 in D 6.11 in
Meissen Porcelain Large Figurine Group 'Zephyr & Flora' By C.G. Juechtzer C.1860
By Christian Gottfried Juechtzer, Meissen Porcelain
Located in Vienna, AT
Excellent large and rare Meissen figurine group from the 19th century: The winged Zephyr, the gentle wind god, and Flora, goddess of vegetation and blossom, loosely wrapped in cloths...
Porcelain
Antique German Meissen School Porcelain Cherub Grouping Early 20thC
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique German figural grouping in the manner of Meissen offers cherubs and young woman in countryside setting, hand painted with gilt highlights; maker stamp as photographed; 20t...
Porcelain
Sold
H 14.57 in W 6.3 in D 5.52 in
'Apollo & Daphne', Large Meissen Porcelain Figurine Group By G. Juechtzer C 1860
By Christian Gottfried Juechtzer, Meissen Porcelain
Located in Vienna, AT
Excellent large and rare Meissen figurine group from the 19th century: Apollo clothed with a cloak embraces Daphne from behind, who is fleeing from him and has already frozen into a ...
Porcelain
Sold
H 1.38 in Dm 9.53 in
Viennese Imperial Porcelain Picture Plate Plate Château Predigtstuhl Vienna 1813
By Viennese Imperial Porcelain Manufactory
Located in Vienna, AT
Porcelain plate decorated with fine veduta painting: In the mirror an octagonal picture panel in front of a golden background with a border of leafy vines painted in matt gold and f...
Porcelain
Antique English Wedgwood Classical Black Basalt Porcelain Bowl, circa 1900
By Wedgwood
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique English bowl by Wedgwood offers black basalt porcelain with Classical figures dancing, maker mark on base as photographed, circa 1900 Measures - 4"h x 10.2"diam Cata...
Porcelain
Sold
H 11.75 in W 6.25 in D 4.5 in
Antique English Minton Classical Hand Painted & Gilt Porcelain Covered Urn 19thC
By Minton
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique English Minton covered urn offers Classical hand-painted reserves with a woman drawing water and, en verso, a cherub, on swirled pink strip groun...
Porcelain, Paint
The Death of Cleopatra Porcelain Plaque KPM
Located in Newark, England
Fine Berlin KPM plaque circa 1870. The plaque of convex form painted with a portrait of The Death of Cleopatra. Cleopatra is painted with flaxen hai...
Ceramic, Porcelain, Wood
Sold
H 15.75 in W 6 in D 6 in
Antique Austrian Royal Vienna Hand Painted & Enamel Decorated Portrait Urn c1890
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Austrian Royal Vienna covered urn offers highly decorated porcelain construction with portrait reserve having Classical Greek woman...
Enamel
Sold
H 6.75 in W 3.75 in D 6 in
Antique German Meissen Hand Painted & Gilt Porcelain Cupid Figure Circa 1890
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique German Meissen figure offers hand painted and gilt porcelain figure of winged cherub pouring from a ewer, maker mark en verso as photographed, c1890 Measures- 6.75''H x...
Porcelain
Sold
H 12.5 in W 8.25 in D 6.5 in
Antique Pair German Saxony Porcelain Urns with Classical Scenes in Relief, c1860
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique pair of German urns by Potschappel of Saxony offer porcelain construction with central hand painted Classical genre scenes in relief and double figural goat handles, gilt ...
Porcelain