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.
Swedish Neoclassical Painted Mirror, Circa 1810
Located in Atlanta, GA
This rare round Italian mirror dates to the 19th century and features an exquisitely carved giltwood frame with deeply modeled foliate and scrolling motifs. The circular form is both...
Glass
Baker Furniture Mahogany Partial Gilt and Green Baker Wall Mirror
Located in Germantown, MD
A midcentury Baker Furniture Company mirror in the roman style. parcel gilt frame with dark green interior paint. Mirror glass is 23W x 46H.
Mirror, Mahogany, Giltwood, Paint
Mid 20th Century Italian Burl Olive Arched Beveled Wall Mirrors
By Palladio
Located in Southampton, NJ
An unusual mid 20th century version of Classic Italian 'Serliana" shape Olive Burl-wood arched wall mirrors with distinct Palladian architecture design elements. Substantial construc...
Brass
Nineteenth Century Italian Florentine Giltwood Mirror
Located in London, GB
A nineteenth century Italian Florentine giltwood mirror, the boldly carved, gesso and gilded frame with period mirror plate, having large leaf cresting to top, leading to elaborate ...
Giltwood
$884Sale Price|42% Off
French Wall Wood Painted Mirror Decorated with Fruits Louis XVI style circa 1900
Located in Labrit, Landes
French Louis 16 style mirror, made circa 1900 The carvings on the wooden frame have an antique theme: fruit and horns of plenty. These themes, borrowed from Greek mythology, have oft...
Mirror, Wood
Italian Baroque Mirror, Ebonized Frame, Gilded Details, 1980s
Located in San Francisco, CA
Beautiful ebonized hardwood frame with 22-karat water gilded leaf details and a lovely crown. The mirror is probably from the late 1970s-early 1980s.
Lacquer, Giltwood
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
Roman Painted and Gilded Mirror
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An elegant, Roman, hand carved, painted and gilded framed mirror with faux marble finish. Original mirror glass has age-appropriate spotting and light loss of silvering to plate.
Mirror, Wood, Paint
$1,600
H 55 in W 31.5 in D 2.75 in
Green Painted Continental Eglomise Mirror with Neoclassical Decoration
Located in Essex, MA
This is a refined neoclassical-style wall mirror with strong decorative symmetry and elegant painted and gilt detailing. Overall, the piece reflects a late 18th-century neoclassical influence, with a palette and stylization often associated with early 20th-century reinterpretations—particularly in the French or Swedish Gustavian taste. A green-painted continental eglomise wall mirror with black column supports and gilded hoof feet. It is decorated at the top with crossed gilt arrow...
Mirror, Wood
$824
H 41.34 in W 23.63 in D 1.97 in
Italian Florentine Mirror by Chelini Painted Fruit Carving Decoration, 1980s
Located in Milano, MI
Italian mirror by Florentine manufacture Chelini with a Della Robbia style fruit carving decoration with polychrome soft color painting. Italian manufacture dating back to, circa 19...
Wood
Carved Hardwood Wall Mirror Mid 20th Century
Located in Wisbech, England
Antique large quality carved hardwood wall mirror, mid 20th Century. This is a lovely unusual mirror. Would look amazing in the right location. No woodworm or loose joints. The gl...
Hardwood
$15,000
H 69 in W 48 in D 3 in
French Palladian Painted & Gilt Trumeau Mirror with Floral Medallions, C. 1810
Located in Charleston, SC
French Palladian painted and gilt trumeau mirror with a fluted carved cornice and flanking floral medallions. Early 19th Century. Mirror retains the original silvered glass & wood ba...
Gesso, Glass, Wood, Paint
Ebonized Convex Mirror
Located in East Hampton, NY
Ebonized bull's-eye mirror.
Wood
Vintage Giltwood Italian Florentine Mirror 1
Located in New York, NY
Great vintage Hollywood Regency style giltwood Italian Florentine mirror. Good condition with newly replaced mirror. Measures 8.5" x5.5". Ho...
Mirror, Giltwood
$3,500
H 64 in W 25.6 in D 2 in
Mirror Swedish Beige Gray Empire Neoclassical Signed, 19th Century, Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Mirror Swedish Empire Neoclassical signed, 19th century, Sweden. A mirror made during the Empire period, first half of 19th century. Signed with maker's name paper stamp on back, cir...
Wood
$52,150Sale Price|30% Off
H 68.5 in W 55.5 in D 12 in
Fine Palatial Italian 19th Century Florentine Giltwood Carved Mirror Frame
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A palatial and museum quality Italian 19th century Florentine Rococo giltwood carved mirror frame. The ornately carved frame with scrolls and acan...
Wood
$2,200
H 21.63 in W 16.5 in D 1.63 in
Italian Wicker Wall Mirror Albini Style, Circa Mid-20th Century, Italy
By Franco Albini, Rosenthal Netter
Located in New York, NY
An Italian wicker rattan wall mirror in the style of designer, Franco Albini, by Rosenthal-Netter, circa mid-20th century, Italy. Mirror is oval with a wicker latticework frame. A gr...
Wicker, Mirror, Rattan
$3,095 / set
H 46.25 in W 36.25 in D 1.75 in
Pair of Louis XVI Style Vintage Paint Decorated and Carved Gilt Mirrors
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Dimensions - H: 46 1/4 in W: 36 1/4 in D: 1 3/4 in A striking pair of Louis XVI style carved wall mirrors, exquisitely paint-decorated in a soft crème finish and adorned with refin...
Gold Leaf
Mid 20th century Italian brass edged oval wall mirror
Located in Malton, GB
This is a very high quality and heavy Mid 20th century brass edged Italian wall mirror. The brass has a wonderful patina to it and the glass is clean. The simplicity of the mirror ma...
Brass
French Louis XVI Gilded Mirror, Giltwood Frame, Hand-Carved, 1890s
Located in Plainview, NY
An exquisite 19th century French Louis XVI gilded mirror. The rectangular mirror is embellished with a magnificent crown featuring scrolls and leaves. The frame is finely hand carved...
Mirror, Giltwood
Pair of English 19th Century Giltwood Mirrors
Located in London, GB
A beautiful pair of English 19th century gilt wood mirrors with carved detail on the frames. Superb quality and very decorative. Pl...
Mirror, Giltwood
Sold
H 41.34 in W 45.67 in D 1.97 in
19th Century Giltwood Rope Twist Mirror with Original Mercury Glass
By Charles Nosotti
Located in London, GB
This is a very large giltwood mirror with the original mercury plate glass. Gorgeous rope twist carving. Absolutely stunning! Englis...
Mercury Glass, Giltwood
18th c. Carved Italian Mirror
Located in Los Angeles, CA
It's all in the carving...clearly.
Wood
Gilt and Ebonized Wood Trumeau Mirror
Located in Norwood, NJ
Gilt wall mirror features carved classical Roman scene.
Gold Leaf
Sold
H 63.5 in W 26.5 in D 1.25 in
Pair of Venetian Italian Patinated Mirrored Glass Painted Gilded Mirrors
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a hard to find pair of Venetian paint and gilded carved wood mirrors with their original patinated aged mirror plate glass, circa 184...
Fruitwood
Tessellated Stone over Wood Gothic Shaped Wall Mirror
Located in Miami, FL
Tessellated stone over wood Gothic shaped wall mirror. Easy and secure to be hung, has hooks on the reverse.
Stone
Pair of Classical Style Giltwood Mirrors with Carved Eagles
Located in Milford, NH
A beautiful pair of Classical style giltwood mirrors, each with carved eagles flanked by small urn finials, chain with giltwood balls, above an acanthus decorated frieze flanked by f...
Glass, Wood
Grand Scale Classical Italian Framed Mirror
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Monumental Italian soft green painted frame depicting egg and dart carving. The egg and dart ornamentation is a common feature of Classical Roman architecture. The mirror is beautifu...
Composition
17th Century Tabernacle Mirror from Italy
Located in Dallas, TX
This polychromed antique Italian tabernacle frontage is from the 1600s. It has a 19th century. Mirror which has been placed inside the frame...
Wood
18th Century Italian Hand-Carved Giltwood Trumeau Mirror
Located in Larkspur, CA
18th century Neo-Classical Italian hand-carved giltwood trumeau mirror with original mirror plate. The frame is beautifully carved with combinations of beading, featuring the origin...
Giltwood
Stylish Classic Italian Mirror by Palladio
By Palladio
Located in San Francisco, CA
Very stylish 1950s Italian classical style mirror made by Palladio. The frame is painted, gilded and despite showing some age, is in very good condition and remains timelessly elegant.
Paint, Wood, Mirror
Architectural Mirror
Located in Bridgehampton, NY
Large 1920's patinaed steel Architectural mirror from France.
Steel