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.
Medallic Ancient Silver Coin (Tetradrachm) of Alexander the Great
Located in London, GB
A medallic and beautifully preserved ancient silver tetradrachm, bearing a particularly fine portrait of one of the greatest heroes from antiquity - Heracles. On the obverse, the hea...
Silver
1st Century Roman Marble Torso of Marsyas, Classical Period
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This striking Roman Marble torso belongs most assuredly the Mythological Satyr Marsyas. The depiction is one that is frequently portrayed in greco-roman statuary, (originally as part...
Marble
Byzantine Mosaic Panel of Hermes, of the Classical Roman Type
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This brilliant and large mosaic panel is composed of multicoloured tesserae on a cream ground, depicting the seated god Hermes. Dynamically rendered, he wears his winged cap, a toga...
Marble
Ancient Roman Bronze Ship Fitting with a Winged Phallus in high relief
Located in London, GB
A well-preserved and well-provenanced Roman bronze ship fitting – or protome – depicting an apotropaic winged phallus, with extensive marine encrustations attesting to millennia unde...
Bronze
Ancient Roman Marble Mosaic Panel depicting a Deer, 4th-5th Century AD
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Wonderfully charismatic and of imposing size, this ancient Roman mosaic depicts a deer with head erect and large antlers, galloping to the left mid-stride, with outstretched legs tha...
Marble
Roman Marble Statue of Jupiter and Eagle from the Imperial Period
Located in London, GB
This exquisite Roman marble statuette depicts Jupiter, king of the gods, flanked by an eagle with outstretched wings, the symbol of his divine power. While only the feet and left leg...
Marble
Ancient Roman Marble Mosaic Panel of Eros, Classical Period
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This superb marble mosaic is a Roman original from the 3rd to 4th Century AD. It features a winged Eros, wearing a billowing cape, holding his bow in his outstretched right arm and ...
Marble
Ancient Roman Marble Dedicatory Plaque with Inscription
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A beautiful and masterfully carved dedicatory plaque, this marble panel features an inscription executed on a piece of warm brown marble with touches of creme, tan, and caramel highl...
Marble
Roman Carved Marble Torso in Military Dress, circa 2nd-3rd Century
Located in Austin, TX
A well carved Roman marble figure of a male in military dress, late Roman Period, circa 2nd-3rd century. The figure portrayed dressed in military att...
Marble
Ancient Roman Bronze Handle or Artifact
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An antique or ancient Roman bronze element. This piece was an element of a vase or possibly handle to something larger. It has the head of...
Bronze
Roman Bronze Hand Mirror with Beautiful Patina, circa 1st Century
Located in Austin, TX
A simple and elegant Roman bronze hand mirror, late Republic Period, circa 1st century, Italy. The bronze mirror of simple form. The round face with a pierced border design. The openwork handle...
Bronze
A Roman gold pendant with portrait cameo
Located in UTRECHT, UT
The loop attached to an oval fitting with radiant decoration. The cameo made of agate, showing the profile of a female bust with hair pinned up. The portrait in the style of Faustina...
Gold
AR Denarius Julia Paula, wife of Elagabalus (219-220)
Located in UTRECHT, UT
Obverse: IVLIA PAVLA AVG, draped bust right, showing later coiffure with small bun Reverse: CONCORDIA, Concordia seated left, holding patera, star in left field Beautifully detaile...
Silver
A Roman bronze applique in the shape of a theatre mask
Located in UTRECHT, UT
Mask of a bearded deity, short beard and hair braided in the characteristic high hairstyle, with layered ringlets on either side. 4 cm (h) Green patina ...
Bronze
$12,950Sale Price|30% Off
Ancient Coptic Textile with Classical Figures
Located in Spring Valley, NY
Finely woven of wool and linen, this large, ancient, museum level Coptic textile depicts figures derived from classical antiquity, some playing musical ...
Wool, Linen
Antiquity of Roman Large Bust-Weight of Venus with Silver Inlaid Eyes, Germany
Located in Antwerp, BE
Large bust weight of Venus with silver inlaid eyes and celestial diadem, Roman culture, Germany, 2nd-3rd century AD. The Goddess is depicted nude, slightly gazing to her right with d...
Bronze
$7,543Sale Price|50% Off
Valuable White Marble Sculpture - "Orante Maiden" - Late 19th Century
Located in Manzano, IT
Splendid period white marble sculpture depicting a young maiden at prayer, from a historic stately villa in the Caserta area. The work is an excellent example of 19th-century devotio...
Marble
Southern Netherlands. Medal of the Holy Sacrament of the Miracle of Brussels
Located in UTRECHT, UT
Obverse: SACRAMENTVM . MI – RACVLOSVM . BRVXELLE, cross with the Holy Hosts, carried by God the Father Reverse: dito VERY RARE, only 2 known specimens (1 in the KBR in Brussels and ...
Silver
N.d. Charles V dedication medal on his crowning and the planned Imperial
Located in UTRECHT, UT
Obverse: crowned and armoured bust right with order chain of the Golden Fleece Reverse: blank After H. Krafft, after a design by A. Dürer OLD SILVER CAST EXTREMELY RARE Four ...
Silver
$3,945
A Roman bronze foot
Located in UTRECHT, UT
With square fitting, hollow at the top for attachment to furniture, one large paw on round base sprouting into lion’s head with visible teeth. 9,5 cm (h) Ex German private property...
Bronze
$960Sale Price|20% Off
Antique North African Red Slip Ware Vase
Located in Katonah, NY
Antique handmade African red slip ware vase. Circa 300-600 CE (AD), this beautiful handmade piece red slip ware pottery was handmade in North Africa. This pi...
Clay
Hermes Riding Crop
By Hermès
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Hermes riding crop with deer antler handle. The shaft is covered in a beautifully braided leather and finished at the bottom with twine. The...
Silver
$22,000
H 3.15 in W 3.08 in D 0.71 in
Ancient Egyptian Green-Blue Faience Fragment from the ‘Bowl of the Traitor’
Located in London, GB
Named the ‘Bowl of the Traitor’ by German Egyptologist Hermann Schlögl, this finely inscribed fragment from a ritual vessel is believed to have belonged to Udjahorresnet, one of the ...
Faience
Ancient Greek Black-Glazed Kantharos, 5th-4th Century BC
Located in London, GB
A Greek black-glazed pottery kantharos Circa 5th - 4th century BC Height: 17 cm (width: 23.5 cm) Provenance: Norri collection, Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire, UK, 1980s-1990s. The ...
Pottery
Ancient Cedar Wood Sweet Refined Egyptian Mummy Mask
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Elegant ancient cedar wood sweet Egyptian mummy mask, 8 3/4 Inches high. Soft weathered surface and great expression. Areas of chips erosion and little bits...
Organic Material, Wood
$2,000
H 13.5 in W 10.5 in D 4 in
The Holy Bible With An Abridgement Of The Commentaries Of Scott And Henry
Located in Islamabad, PK
The Holy Bible With An Abridgement Of The Commentaries Of Scott And Henry Bound in full navy Morocco with the covers displaying open-tooled bordering details, an indented central ti...
Gold Plate
$4,050
H 2.37 in W 1.19 in D 2.29 in
Ancient Greek Hellenistic Marble Head of a Goddess, probably Aphrodite
Located in London, GB
The head carved in luminous marble, likely depicts Aphrodite, the ancient Greek goddess of love and beauty. Shown with her smooth oval face with deeply set eyes, and slightly open lips, her hair centrally-parted with a diadem, and a chignon at her neck. The head would originally have been from a full length figure of the goddess, depicted either entirely nude, or semi-nude with folds of drapery around her hips. Such figures are often known as 'Anadyomene' which means 'rising from the sea'. The tilt of the head and the hair arrangement is seen in other Hellenistic Greek marble heads...
Marble
Ancient Greek Red-Figure Terracotta Pelike (Jar), 5th–4th Century BCE
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Presenting an exquisite ancient Greek red-figure terracotta pelike (storage jar) standing 10.5 inches tall. This piece embodies the timeless artistry of Classical Greece, featuring h...
Terracotta
$607
H 1.26 in W 3.98 in D 3.98 in
Greek Black-Glazed Pottery Dish, Magna Graecia, Circa 4th Century BC
Located in London, GB
A small Greek black-glazed pottery dish Magna Graecia, circa 4th century BC Set on a ring-foot, the body has thick walls with a carinated profile and a curving interior, decorated ...
Pottery
$24,302
H 13 in W 6.3 in D 4.73 in
Attic Red-Figure Neck Amphora, by the Painter Of The Louvre Centauromachy
Located in London, GB
The Classical Greek amphora with glossy black glaze and elegantly twisted handles. Depicting on one side an Athenian youth resting on a staff and wearing a himation with his right a...
Pottery
Pre Columbian Calima vessel Colombia ancient South America
Located in London, GB
Pre Columbian Calima vessel Colombia ancient South America A Calima vessel featuring double spouted stirrup vessel with incised design in red clay Calima circa 200 BC- 400 AD Col...
Clay
AR Tetradrachm Attica, Athens, ca. 410 BC
Located in UTRECHT, UT
Obverse: head of Athena right, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet decorated with olive leaves over visor and spiral palmette Reverse: owl standing right with head fa...
Silver
$3,040Sale Price|20% Off
H 3.55 in W 1.19 in D 0.6 in
A Small Egyptian Bronze Statue of Harpocrates Ex Sotheby's
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A Small Egyptian Bronze Statue of Harpocrates, Circa 1st Century B.C. / 1st Century A.D. The left hand holds the horn of abundance. Provenanc...
Bronze
Sold
H 1.7 in W 2.68 in D 2.76 in
Exquisite Roman Marble Foot, ex-Metropolitan Museum of Art Collection
Located in London, GB
This evocative Roman marble foot is a timeless remnant of the sculpture it was once part of. Sensitively carved and polished, it reveals the hand of a master sculptor, and hints at t...
Marble
Head of Hadrian
Located in London, GB
A Roman marble bust of the Emperor Hadrian (76-138). Although the head has been weathered with age, it is still clearly identifiable as Hadrian. It features his thick curls, combed f...
Marble
AR Denarius Caracalla (198-217)
Located in UTRECHT, UT
Obverse: ANTONINVS – PIVS AVG, laureate and draped bust right Reverse: FELICIT – AS AVG G, Felicitas standing left, holding caduceus in right hand and cornucopia in left Weight: 3.8...
Silver
AR Denarius Marc Antony with M. Iunius Silanus summer 32 BC
Located in UTRECHT, UT
Obverse: [ANTON AV]G IMP III COS DES III III V R P [C], bare head right Reverse: M SILANVS AV[G] / Q PRO COS RARE Artist signature P. concealed in hair behind ear Weight: 3.76 g...
Silver
AR Denarius Macrinus (217-218)
Located in UTRECHT, UT
Obverse: IMP CM OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right Reverse: SECVRITAS TEMPORVM, Aequitas Securitas standing left, legs crossed, holding scepter in right hand an...
Silver
AR Denarius Geta (209-211)
Located in UTRECHT, UT
Obverse: P SEPT GETA – CAES PONT, draped an cuirassed bust with bare head of Geta right Reverse: FELICI – TAS PVBLICA, Felicitas standing left, holding caduceus in right hand and cor...
Silver
AR Denarius Commodus (177-192)
Located in UTRECHT, UT
Obverse: M COMM ANTONINVS ANT P – FEL AVG BRIT, laureate head right Reverse: NOBILIT AVG P M TR P XI IMP VIII COS V P P, Nobilitas standing right, holding sceptre and statuette Weig...
Silver
Marble Head of Hermes
Located in London, GB
Roman head of the god Hermes in an archaising style, following a Greek model from the fourth century B.C.. Hermes is depicted in manner typically found on herms, with a full beard of...
Marble
AR Denarius Otho (69)
Located in UTRECHT, UT
Obverse: [IMP M O]THO CAESAR AVG TR P, bare head to right Reverse: SECVR- I[TAS P R], Securitas standing to left, holding wreath and sceptre Weight: 3.33 g Grade: Very Fine Referenc...
Silver
AR Denarius Vespasian (69-79). JUDAEA
Located in UTRECHT, UT
Obverse: IMP CAESAR VERSPASIANVS AVG, laureate head right Reverse: IVDAEA, mourning Judaea right, seated by trophy The First Jewish–Roman War (66–74 AD), fought in Judaea, was the ...
Silver
Corsican Bronze Hoard
Located in London, GB
Dagger L: 27.8 cm, Luniform bronze, possibly a belt buckle L: 10.8 cm, Shield-shaped bronze with a point Diam: 6.5 cm, Pommel Diam: 3.7 cm, Violin-bow brooch L: 17.5 cm, P-Shape...
Bronze
Departure of Charles II from Scheveningen to England
Located in UTRECHT, UT
Obverse: CAROLUS . II . D : G . MAGNÆ . BRIT . FRA . ET . HIB . REX ., armoured bust of Charles II, three quarters facing, with medal on ribbon on chest, on which St. George fighting...
Silver