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.
Top Quality & Larg Size, Timeless Design Alabaster Pendant Light Ceiling Fixture
Located in Lisse, NL
Top class light fixture with a stunning alabaster shade. Thanks to its unique design, its large size)19.9 inches in diameter) and its truly good condition this alabaster chandelier ...
Alabaster, Brass, Wire, Metal, Bronze
Perfect Antique White & Black Alabaster Pendant Flush Mount w. Greek Key Pattern
Located in Lisse, NL
Top class and exceptional antique alabaster chandelier for an entry hall, bedroom or any other room. Thanks to its unique design, aesthetic beauty, perfect size and great condition ...
Alabaster, Metal, Brass, Bronze, Wire
French Art Deco White Black Veining Alabaster Pendant Chandelier, 1930s
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
A lovery Arte Deco era alabaster pendant / light fixture, France, 1930-1939. Hand-carved shade from a solid alabaster rock with beautiful black veining and polished to a natural shin...
Alabaster
Three-Light Meander Flexible Arm Ceiling Mounted Light Fixture
Located in Pound Ridge, NY
Ceiling mounted Meander light featuring three flexible metal arms which allow you to adjust and pose the light fixture; shown here with metal arms in standard black finish, and solid brushed brass fittings; 27 inch arms, 6 inch diameter ceiling mount. Overall measurements depend on how it is posed. Custom finishes, leather wrapping and custom configurations are available, please visit us at Avantgarden in Pound Ridge...
Metal, Brass
Italian Sunburst Pendant Flush Mount in Black and Gilt Metal
Located in Barcelona, ES
Mid-Century Modern BLACK metal and BRASS sunburst suspension light, chandelier or light fixture. Italy, 1950s. This eye-catching ceiling lamp features a black lacquered metal shade s...
Metal, Brass
$5,208
H 43.31 in Dm 22.05 in
Top Quality Large Size, Timeless Design Alabaster Pendant Light with Rope Chain
Located in Bochum, NRW
A sculptural alabaster pendant chandelier with a generous 56 cm diameter and exceptionally rich natural veining, offering the warm, atmospheric glow characteristic of high‑quality ea...
Alabaster
Large Flush Mount Light
Located in Antwerp, BE
Rare large flush mount light. Measures: Diameter 56 cm. Height 28 cm. Four E27 bulbs.
Chrome
Three-Light Meander Flexible Arm Ceiling Mounted Light Fixture
Located in Pound Ridge, NY
Ceiling mounted Meander light featuring three flexible arms which allow you to adjust and pose the light fixture; shown here with metal arms in standard ...
Brass
$4,438
H 5.91 in Dm 20.87 in
Large French Sunburst Nail Design Ceiling Light Fixture in Gilt Iron, 1940s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Large sunburst ceiling light fixture in gold leaf gilt iron, France, 1930s-1940s French wrought iron bronze gilt large sunburst flush mount or pendant with nails or spikes frame. A h...
Metal, Iron, Gold Leaf
$2,290
H 5.91 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
White Lucite & Black Metal Flush Mount, Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce, Italy 1950
Located in Niederdorfelden, Hessen
Mid century flush mount designed by Gino Sarfatti attr. for Arteluce. The ceiling fixture is made of a white lucite overlay with black metal rods and frame. The lamp emits a lot of i...
Metal
Graniglia Flush Mount
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Italian flush mount with a Murano glass diffuser hand blown in Graniglia technique to produce granular texture, mounted on gold plated finish frame / Made in Italy in the style of Ba...
Gold Plate
Murano Graniglia Flush Mount
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Italian flush mount with a single large textured clear Murano glass diffuser hand blown in Graniglia technique, mounted on gold finish metal frame / Made in Italy, circa 1960...
Metal
$4,379
H 7.88 in Dm 19.69 in
Sunburst Crown Ceiling Ceiling Light Fixture in Carved Giltwood, Spain 1930s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Eye-catching Crown sunburst flush mount, giltwood, gold leaf, Spain, 1930s-1940s. Gorgeous baroque style carved gold leaf giltwood crown sunburst light fixture with frosted glass dif...
Gold Leaf
Sunburst Ceiling Light Fixture in Gilt Iron with Milk Glass Globe
Located in Barcelona, ES
Gorgeous Brutalist gilt iron sunburst flush mount with opaline glass globe, France, 1950s. This sunburst light fixture features a double layer of leaves / rays surrounding a central milk glass globe shade. This stunning ceiling flush mount combines Hollywood Regency and Brutalist accents. Each leaf is richly adorned by the hammer work. Nice patina showing its original gold leaf gilding. It can be placed flush mounted or as a pendant hanging from a chain at the desired height. Newly wired. Overall Measures: 45 cm diameter x 22 cm H // 17,71 in diameter x 8,66 in H We are specialists in lighting: A curated selection of light fixtures, pendants lights and other lighting items is avaliable at our 1stdibs marketplace. We invite you to enjoy the whole collection. Sunburst flush mount light // sunburst pendant lamp // sunburst ceiling light fixture // Sunburst Gilt Iron Light...
Iron, Wrought Iron, Gold Leaf
Sold
H 23 in Dm 15.8 in
Top Quality & Good Size, Timeless Design Alabaster Pendant Light with Rope Chain
Located in Lisse, NL
Top class light fixture with a stunning alabaster shade. Thanks to its unique design, its good size and its truly excellent condition this alabaster chandelier will light up both yo...
Alabaster, Brass, Wire
Sold
H 31 in Dm 15.5 in
Antique White and Black Antique Alabaster Pendant Chandelier Top Quality Fixture
Located in Lisse, NL
Top class light fixture with a stunning, deeply hand carved, alabaster plafonnier shade. Thanks to its unique design, its good size, and its truly excellent condition this alabaster...
Alabaster, Bronze
Antique Classical Revival Bronze and Hand Engraved Glass Flush Mount Fixture
Located in Lisse, NL
Stylish and marvelous quality light fixture. This striking and all handcrafted antique flush mount could look great in your hallway, on your landing, but also in one of your bedrooms or in a study. Both with the light switched on and off, the combination of the stunning bronze ring with the curved shell motifs and the hand-engraved glass shade is an absolute joy to look at. Its good and practical size and the fact that it is very easy to mount, make it even more desirable. You can simply mount this fixture onto your ceiling (over a wire and socket that come out of your ceiling), because it has no wiring of its own. We will also include three original brass screws and an antique socket (a brass one with a porcelain ring). Mind you, our price for this stylish antique flushmount...
Bronze