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.
Italian Design, Rustic, Wall Mirror, Wood, Reverse Painted Glass, Italy, 2000s
Located in Stamford, CT
Rustic Italian wall mirror. Large wall mirror. Timber frame with reverse painted and mirrored glass. Brass trim. 1HH.
Mirror, Wood
Rustic Italian Wall Mirror with Reverse Painted Classical Vases and Urns
Located in Stamford, CT
Rustic Italian wall mirror. Large wall mirror. Timber frame with reverse painted and mirrored glass. Brass trim. 1HH.
Mirror, Wood
$3,255
H 31.89 in W 23.63 in D 1.58 in
Venetian Modern Rectangular Wall Mirror with Brass and Giltwood Details
Located in Barcelona, ES
Venetian style rectangular wall mirror with round corners and gilt metal accents, Spain, 1960s This wall mirror has a triple mirror and giltwood frame with rectangular shape and roun...
Metal, Brass
$1,827
H 34.65 in W 20.08 in D 1.19 in
Italian Mid-Century Wall Mirror with Original Brass Frame and New Glass, 1970s
Located in Morazzone, Varese
Italian Mid-Century Wall Mirror with Original Brass Frame and New Glass, 1970s Original oval wall mirror with brass frame from Italian production of the 1960s-1970s. The crystal gla...
Brass
Italian Gilt Wood Mirror
Located in Montreal, QC
Italian Rococo gilt and carved wood mirror.
Giltwood
$2,513
H 28.55 in W 19.3 in D 0.99 in
Italian Large Mid-Century Vintage Wall Mirror with Original Brass Frame, 1970s
Located in Morazzone, Varese
Italian Large Mid-Century Vintage Wall Mirror with Original Brass Frame, 1970s Beautiful and elegant, large vintage wall mirror with solid shiny brass frame and crystal mirror glass...
Brass
$4,569 / item
H 47.25 in W 31.5 in D 1.97 in
Midcentury Murano Oval Gold Art Glass and Brass Italian Wall Mirror, 2020
Located in Roma, Lazio
Stunning mirror in blazing gold color Murano glass, Venice. A mirror that alone will furnish your home environment. The Murano furnaces create an indisputable timeless design, simple...
Brass
$4,569
H 47.25 in W 31.5 in D 1.97 in
Midcentury Murano Oval Gold Art Glass and Brass Italian Wall Mirror, 2020
Located in Roma, Lazio
Stunning mirror in blazing gold color Murano glass, Venice. A mirror that alone will furnish your home environment. The mirror has a rear structure in wood, on which four Murano gol...
Brass
Italian Burled Wood and Bronze Mirror After Gio Ponti
By Ico Parisi, Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann, Paolo Buffa, Gio Ponti, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Houston, TX
Stylish Italian Gio Ponti inspired burled wood and bronze mirror in the Art Deco style. Featured mirror is geometric in form with interesting curved cor...
Bronze
$2,627
H 32.29 in W 20.08 in D 0.99 in
Italian Large Mid-Century Vintage Wall Mirror with Original Brass Frame, 1970s
Located in Morazzone, Varese
Italian Large Mid-Century Vintage Wall Mirror with Original Brass Frame, 1970s Beautiful and elegant, large vintage wall mirror with solid brass frame and crystal mirror glass. Made...
Brass
Mirror with Dragons, Italy, 1940s
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
An Asian -nspired mirror with unusual shape, framed by two carved wood dragons, seeming to entwine around the glass.
Wood
$2,741
H 30.71 in W 22.05 in D 1.11 in
Italian Midcentury Large Size Wall Mirror with Brass Frame and Decor, 1950s
Located in Morazzone, Varese
Italian Midcentury Large Size Wall Mirror with Brass Frame and Decor, 1950s Beautiful and elegant large wall mirror with brass frame and decorations. Made in Italy in the 1950s. The...
Brass
$5,140 / item
H 1.97 in W 47.25 in D 31.5 in
Midcentury Murano Oval Pink Art Glass and Brass Italian Wall Mirror, 2020
Located in Roma, Lazio
Gorgeous flaming pink Murano glass mirror. A mirror that alone will furnish your home. The mirror has a wooden back structure, on which a series of Murano glass leaves are mounted t...
Brass
French Gilt Carved Wood Floral Wall / Mantel Mirror
Located in Charleston, SC
French gilt carved wood wall / mantel mirror with centered floral cartouche, original glass, and paneled back. All original. Dealers please call for trade price.
$12,500 / set
H 30 in W 15.5 in D 2 in
Pair of Italian Gilt Carved Wood Foliage Wall Mirrors, Circa 1810
Located in Charleston, SC
Pair of Italian gilt carved wood wall mirrors with floral carved cartouche, flanking scrolled foliage, interior egg & dart motif, and terminating with a lower floral pendant. Mir...
Gold Leaf
American Gilt Carved Wood Eagle & Cornucopia Wall Mirror, Circa 1830
Located in Charleston, SC
American gilt carved wood wall mirror with flanking cornucopias, perched eagle to flee and decorative floral medallions. Mirror retains the original glass and wood back. Mid-19th Cen...
Gold Leaf
Rectangular Giltwood Wall Mirror with Arched Top
Located in Chicago, IL
The arched top provides a pleasing variation to the standard rectangular form of this giltwood wall mirror. The deep frame gives a subtle shadowbox effect.
Mirror, Giltwood
Pair of Mirrors
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of oval mirrors with shell decoration. Made of resin plaster with insets of shells and small pebbles. All natural stone color. Perfect for terrace or garden decoration Bottom...
Plaster, Shell