Classical Roman Historical Memorabilia
CLASSICAL ROMAN STYLE
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.
to
1
4
2
6
206
87
77
74
59
46
39
19
18
12
11
10
6
4
3
1
4
2
3
2
2
1
1
6
4
2
6
6
6
Style: Classical Roman
A Collection of 4 Ancient Roman Bronze Coin 200-300 AD Collectible Object
Located in Wembley, GB
A collection of 4 nice original ancient large bronze Roman coins. Could be emperor Caracalla dating from circa.200-300 AD. Shows nice detail, imagine all the places these coins have ...
Category
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Classical Roman Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Metal, Bronze
Antique Knight Saint Carved Statue Figure St. George Soldier Medieval Armor Oak
Located in Tyler, TX
Rare Tall Carved Oak Statue Figure~~Medieval Knight or Saint with Armor~~St. George~~c. late 18th or early 19th century
HIGHLY CARVED~~notice the details~~St. George, a Christian saint who was a soldier in the Roman army...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Classical Roman Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Oak
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...
Category
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Classical Roman Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Marble
"Canon of the Five Orders of Architecture" by Iacomo Barozzio Da Vignola
Located in Miami, FL
The clarity and ease of use of Vignola's treatise caused it to become in succeeding centuries the most published book in architectural history.
This book was first published in 1562....
Category
16th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Paper, Parchment Paper
Roman Empire Domitian Coin circa 76-77 AD Set in Gold with Diamond Accents
Located in Atlanta, GA
An authentic Roman Empire, Domitian (circa 76-77 AD), silver Denarius coin, minted in Rome, set in a custom 22-karat gold bezel with 22-karat gold bail with gold bead and diamond acc...
Category
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Classical Roman Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Gold
Rare Antique Classical Roman Bronze & Glass Inkstand with Crystal Glass Inkwell
Located in Lisse, NL
Stylish, rare and mint condition bronze, brass and glass desk piece.
This completely original inkstand dates from the late 19th century and it has a large number of striking Roman...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Classical Roman Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Crystal, Brass, Bronze
Related Items
Original Antique (3rd Century AD) Roman Carved Agate Intaglio
Located in Chicago, IL
Intaglio is a technique which dates back to antiquity and is still in use today. Images are carved or engraved in gemstones leaving a hollow impression in the untouched background. T...
Category
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Classical Roman Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Agate
Thorens Swiss AD 30 Upright Music Box with Ten Discs, circa 1970
Located in Evergreen, CO
Manufactured by the renowned Thorens Company of Switzerland in the mid-20th century, this delightful music box is comprised of a quality fruitwood case with a glass door that allows ...
Category
1970s Swiss Vintage Classical Roman Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Fruitwood
Silver Gilded Diamonds Whistle Russian Empire Moscow Lebedkin, circa 1905
Located in Vienna, AT
Whistle made of gilded silver
The decoration consists of diamonds covering an anchor.
Additionally there is a small handle shaped as a steering wheel.
Original casket existing!
...
Category
Early 1900s Russian Antique Classical Roman Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Sterling Silver
H 1.26 in W 4.33 in D 1.96 in
Roman Bronze Ring – 1st Century AD
Located in Madrid, ES
An interesting Roman ring from the 1st century AD, cast in bronze and decorated with an engraved motif of two fish facing each other, a common symbol in the ancient world, associated...
Category
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Classical Roman Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Bronze
Bronze Jewelry Box Ancient Sarcophagus Reliefs Greek Roman Caesar Gladiator
By Line Vautrin
Located in Hyattsville, MD
A wonderful heavy cast bronze, hinged/lidded box, lightly polished, and glowing. Depicting ancient relief scenes / characters of Ancient Roman or Greek...
Category
1920s Italian Vintage Classical Roman Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Bronze
H 2.63 in W 6.38 in D 3.5 in
18th Century Carved Oak Statue Depicting St. Bartholomew
Located in Dallas, TX
This tall French statue of St. Bartholomew was hand-carved from oak in the 1700’s. This depiction of St. Bartholomew is not often seen in art, except for one of the most well known r...
Category
18th Century French Antique Classical Roman Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Oak
Medieval Style Armor Gauntlet Articulated Steel
Located in Rochester, NY
Articulated medieval style steel gauntlet. Well made, mid-20th century.
Category
Mid-20th Century Classical Roman Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Metal, Steel
Late Roman/Byzantine Jewish Amber Color Glass Amulet with Menorah
Located in New York, NY
Late Roman to Early Byzantine, ca. 300 to 500 CE. A rare and beautiful amulet of a generally circular form with a flat bottom, a raised periphery, and an integral suspension loop, mo...
Category
15th Century and Earlier Israeli Antique Classical Roman Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Glass
19th Century Mortar and Pestle
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
19th century fruitwood mortar and pestle. Remnants of oxblood red and silver blue banded paint. Original pestle included.
Origin: Eastern, United States
Period: First half of the 19...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Classical Roman Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Fruitwood
Early 20th-C. French Gilt Bronze And Malachite Desk Pen Inkwell / Inkstand
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is an early 20th century highly decorative French gilt bronze, malachite and faux malachite inkstand with dual inkwells. The base is a mix of faux malachite and malachite veneer...
Category
Early 20th Century French Classical Roman Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Malachite, Bronze
18th Century Spanish Colonial Carved Wood Statue of a Saint
Located in Miami, FL
A very fine Spanish Colonial statue of a male saint in carved and polychromed wood. The saint's face has a beatific expression and the eyes are made of gl...
Category
Mid-18th Century Philippine Antique Classical Roman Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Wood
European Elk Horn Mount, 3rd quarter 20th century
Located in Atlanta, GA
large elk rack mounted on a shield form backplate
Category
1960s European Vintage Classical Roman Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Antler
Previously Available Items
18th Century Limoges Enamel Plaque Depicting Emperor Galba VII
Located in Bradenton, FL
18th Century Limoges enamel plaque depicting Roman Emperor Galba VII. Plaque is surrounded by black wooden frame with gilded inner trim. STYLE OF JEAN II PÉNICAUD.
Dimensions: 8.2...
Category
18th Century French Antique Classical Roman Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Enamel
Ancient Roman Bronze Crossbow Fibula or Toga Pin
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine ancient Roman bronze fibula.
A so-called 'crossbow' fibula.
From the private collection of Lawrence Majewski, who was a former conservator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art....
Category
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Classical Roman Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Bronze
Schliemann, Henry, ILIOS, The City and the Country of the Troyans, 1885 Paris
Located in Sofia, BG
Heinrich Schliemann - Ilios, ville et pays des Troyens - 1885
Archaeology, Art, History Book
SCHLIEMANN, Henri. ILIOS. Ville et pays des Troyens....
Category
1880s French Antique Classical Roman Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Paper
H 2.76 in W 7.88 in D 11.42 in
C. Julii Caesaris De Vita Et Rebus Gestis Ex Musaeo Joannis Georgii Graevii, 1713
Located in Sofia, BG
C. Julii Caesaris
Quae extant omnia Cum Animadversionibus integris Dion. Vossii, J. Davisii Coll. Regin. Cantab. Socii, ALIORUMQUE VARIIS NOTIS, Ut & qui vocatur JULIUS CELSUS DE VIT...
Category
1710s French Antique Classical Roman Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Paper
H 1.97 in W 7.09 in D 5.52 in
Roman Gold Ring with Eagle Gemstone, 4th Century AD
Located in Sofia, BG
A gold finger ring with granules to the shoulders, disc plaque with applied filigree collar, cell with inset green jasper cloison, intaglio eagle gripp...
Category
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Classical Roman Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Gold
18th Century Grand Tour Roman Sarcophagus
Located in New Orleans, LA
Almost certainly a memento of the aristocratic Grand Tour through Italy popular at the time of its creation, this rare and highly important 18th century marble was crafted in the form of an ancient Roman sarcophagus...
Category
18th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Marble
Authentic Solidus Roman Imperial Coin in 22k Gold Necklace Pendant, circa 476 AD
Located in Atlanta, GA
An authentic Zeno the Second Reign, AV Gold Solidus Roman Imperial Coin (Constantinople Mint, circa 476-491 AD), set in a squared 22-karat gold bezel with 22-karat gold bail. The obv...
Category
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Classical Roman Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Gold
H 1.25 in W 0.88 in D 0.25 in
19th Century Micromosaic 'Grand Tour' Decorative Box of Architecture Scenes
By Vatican Mosaic Studio
Located in London, GB
A ‘Grand Tour’ casket
This lockable casket is made of English pollarded oak inset with five Italian polychrome micromosaic plaques.
Micromosaic is a type of work consisting of thousands of tiny hand-made glass tiles, which are uniformly shaped into strings while at a hot temperature, cooled, cut and then placed by hand into the desired design.
The plaques depict various scenes one may have seen while visiting Rome during a Grand Tour of Europe; an event for ‘young aristocrats’ in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Scenes include the ‘Doves of Pliny’ (top); Temples of Saturn and Vespasian situated in the Roman Forum (front); Pantheon and St Peter's Square (sides); and the Colosseum (back).
The plaques have been attributed to the Studio del Musaico dell Reverenda Fabbrica di S. Pietro (Mosaic Studio of the Reverenced Work Shop of St. Peter’s) and were likely made in the early-to-mid-nineteenth century and brought to England and inserted into this casket. Studio del Musaico dell Reverenda Fabbrica di S. Pietro was established around 1576 to create architectural mosaics for the new basilica, and was later recognized as a distinct entity in 1727, supplying extraordinarily detailed views of Rome to the new industry of ‘tourism’, in the form of tabletops, tablets and jewellery, just as these plaques exemplify.
The 2nd century AD floor mosaics in Hadrian’s villa in Tivoli, near Rome, were discovered in 1737, inspired the top scene of the ‘Doves of Pliny’. The side panels depicting the Pantheon and St Peter’s Square were inspired by the period’s local architecture, which is significant, as today the Pantheon has been since altered. As history tells us, in the early 17th century, Gian Lorenzo Bernini was commissioned to design and add two Baroque bell towers to the Pantheon, which was originally constructed in the 1st century BC under the orders of Marcus Agrippa...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Historical Memorabilia
Materials
Cut Glass, Oak
Classical Roman historical memorabilia for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Classical Roman historical memorabilia for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 19th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage historical memorabilia created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include more furniture and collectibles, decorative objects, folk art and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Classical Roman historical memorabilia made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and France pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original historical memorabilia, popular names associated with this style include and Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for historical memorabilia differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $275 and tops out at $32,000 while the average work can sell for $2,750.