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.
Antique set of 4 English Windsor lowback chairs with character
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This fantastic set of 4 antique lowback Windsor dining chairs has developed a wonderful patina over the years. These chairs feature a spindle backrest, a beautifully shaped seat, and...
Wood
Set of 4 Antique Spanish Country Chairs with Woven Rattan Seats
Located in Harderwijk, NL
Offered: this unique set of 4 antique Spanish country chairs with woven rattan seats and beautiful wood carvings. This charming set of 4 antique Spanish country chairs is not only vi...
Rattan, Wood
Thonet-Style Bistro Chair, Hand-Crafted Wood, 20th Century Design
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This charming and very elegant bistro chair in the style of Thonet, featuring beautiful carved details in the seat. This stunning Thonet-style dining/bistro chair, with its charming ...
Wood
Vintage white bistro chair with armrests in Thonet style
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This vintage bistro chair features an elegantly curved wooden frame and a cane seat and backrest. The design of the armrests makes it a real eye-catcher in almost any interior. Perfe...
Wood
Set of 6 antique beautiful English Windsor chairs with a beautiful patina
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This fantastic set of six antique lowback Windsor dining chairs has developed a wonderful patina over the years. These chairs feature a spindle backrest, a beautifully shaped seat, a...
Wood
Vintage set of 4 dining chairs made of sheepskin leather with a high back
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This set of four vintage dining chairs is made of high-quality sheepskin leather. The chairs feature high backs and are finely finished with stylish decorative studs, giving them a c...
Leather, Sheepskin, Wood
Set of 2 Antique Spanish Country Chairs with Woven Rush Seats
Located in Harderwijk, NL
Offered here this charming and unique set of 2 antique Spanish country chairs with woven rush seats and beautiful wood carving. This distinctive set of 2 antique Spanish country chai...
Rush, Wood
Set of Eight Italian Savonarola Armchairs, Brass & Steel, Mid-Century
By Dante Savonarola
Located in Stamford, CT
Set of 8 mid-20th century Italian Savonarola curule brass and steel armchairs with leather seat and back rest. They can be purchased as pairs for $3500. Each chair has four brass bal...
Brass, Steel
Set of 4 antique Jacob and Josef Kohn chairs from the early 20th century
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This amazing set of 4 original antique Jacob and Josef Kohn chairs comes from the early 20th century and features beautiful drawings/motifs in the wood. They fit well in both classic...
Wood
Set of two Art Nouveau design dining chairs with red fabric upholstery
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This luxurious set of two chairs is by the renowned Dutch brand Schuitema, known for its quality, design, and use of materials. These chairs also feature the distinctive details we h...
Fabric, Wood
Set of 4 original vintage Thonet design webbing chairs model Long John
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This set of 4 original vintage Thonet Long John design chairs features an elegant high back a gracefully curved frame and a characterful webbing seat. Due to their handmade nature th...
Wood, Webbing
Set of 4 Hand-Crafted Sheepskin Leather Dining Chairs in Roman Style
Located in Harderwijk, NL
Offered here is a timeless set of 4 stately and comfortable dining chairs in sheep leather, featuring a refined decorative nail trim. With their elegant, timeless look and beautiful...
Leather, Sheepskin
Set of six cowhide dining chairs with a comfortable seat and high back
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This nice and comfortable set of 6 genuine leather dining chairs can easily be placed in almost any interior. They look perfect at both an antique and a modern dining table. Not only...
Cowhide, Leather
Cow leather dining/side/desk chair with comfortable seat and a high back
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This nice and comfortable genuine leather dining / occasional / desk chair can easily be placed in almost any interior. It fits perfectly in both classic and modern interiors, in the...
Cowhide, Leather, Wood
Set of four cowhide dining chairs with a comfortable seat and high back
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This nice and comfortable set of 4 genuine leather dining chairs can easily be placed in almost any interior. They look perfect at both an antique and a modern dining table. Not only...
Cowhide, Leather
Set of 2 original vintage Thonet design chairs model Long John with armrests
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This set of two original vintage Thonet Long John design chairs combines an elegant high back and a gracefully curved wooden frame with armrests and a characterful webbing seat and b...
Wood, Webbing
Set of 4 luxury black leather Art Deco dining chairs with armrests
Located in Harderwijk, NL
These luxurious, comfortable, and elegant chairs are from the renowned Dutch brand Schuitema, known for its quality, designs, and use of materials. These chairs also feature the dist...
Cowhide, Leather, Wood
Set of four antique oak dining chairs in Art Nouveau style
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This wonderful antique set of Art Nouveau dining chairs can fit into almost any interior thanks to their timeless appearance. These chairs also combine beautifully with a modern dini...
Cowhide, Leather, Wood, Oak
Set of 4 beautiful sheepskin dining chairs with character
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This wonderful set of 4 sheepskin leather dining chairs features beautiful, warm tones. They suit almost any interior and pair well with both modern and antique dining tables. With p...
Leather, Sheepskin
Set of 4 vintage bistro chairs Jacob & Josef Kohn Wien with a wicker seat
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This nice set of 4 chairs is by Jacob & Josef Kohn Wien and features an elegantly curved wooden frame, a wicker seat, and a decorative backrest, giving them a timeless and cosy look....
Wicker, Wood
Set of 2 wooden vintage bistro chairs Jacob & Josef Kohn Wien
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This nice set of 2 chairs is from Jacob & Josef Kohn Wien and features an elegantly curved wooden frame, a wicker seat, and a decorative backrest, giving them a timeless and cozy loo...
Wicker, Wood
Set of 4 fabric dining chairs with armrests in good condition
Located in Harderwijk, NL
These stunning Art Deco design dining chairs are from the renowned Dutch brand Schuitema and can be easily placed in almost any interior. In our opinion, they should not be missing f...
Fabric, Wood
Art Nouveau design dining chair/side chair with red fabric upholstery
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This luxurious chair is by the renowned Dutch brand Schuitema, known for its quality, design, and use of materials. This chair also features the distinctive details we have come to e...
Fabric, Wood
$4,000 / set
H 40 in W 20.75 in D 32 in
Blended Set of 8 Complimentary Semi Antique Hardwood Windsor Armchairs
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An exceptional blended set of 8 Hardwood Windsor Armchairs with fine traditional form and particularly well-grained seats. In a Natural tone with classic hoop backs with spindles and...
Hardwood
$2,500 / set
H 41 in W 20 in D 19.5 in
Louis XVI Style, Six Dining Chairs, Painted Wood, Cane, Leather, 20th c.
Located in Stamford, CT
Louis XVI Style, Six Dining Chairs, Painted Wood, Cane, Leather, USA, 20th c. Set of six Louis XVI style carved wood, cane, and leather dining chairs. Painted Wood, Cane, Leather; ...
Hardwood
Michael Thonet N. 14 Bistro Dining Chair, Austria
By Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH, Michael Thonet
Located in Miami, FL
Iconic N. 14 Bistro dining chair or side chair designed by Michael Thonet, rendered in black painted beech bentwood frame with a woven wicker cain...
Wicker, Wood, Beech, Bentwood, Paint
$165
H 34 in W 17 in D 16 in
Vienna Secesionist Bentwood Cafe Bistro Dining Chair by Fischel after Thonet
Classic Vienna Secessionist bentwood cafe, bistro, dining chair, circa 1900/1930's, marked Fischel Checoslov. This example is in good, original, clean and ready to use condition, sh...
Beech
Michael Thonet N. 14 Bistro Dining Chair, Austria
By Michael Thonet, Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH
Located in Miami, FL
Iconic N. 14 Bistro dining chair or side chair designed by Michael Thonet, rendered in black painted beech bentwood frame with a woven wicker cain...
Wicker, Wood, Beech, Bentwood, Paint
Set of Six English Windsor Chairs
Located in Antwerp, BE
Six unusual and wonderful aged, worn patina chairs are in good condition.They look fantastic together as a set. The seat height of all seats is 18.5 in. (47 cm) The height of the armrest is 26.77 in. (68 cm) The two high back chairs are 37.79 in. (96 cm) high x 22.04 in. (56 cm) wide and seat height 18.50 in. (47 cm) x 22.04 in. (56 cm) deep. The other four Windsor chairs...
Wood
Rare Set of 6 Metal Windsor Chairs
Located in East Hampton, NY
A rare and interesting set of 6 chairs from the Philadelphia Public Library reading rooms circa 1929.
Metal
Sold|$350
H 36 in W 11 in D 18 in
Set of Six Metal Kitchen Dining Cafe Bistro Chairs after Thonet c. 1970's
Located in New York, NY
Chic set of vintage 1970's kitchen chairs, modeled after the iconic Vienna Secessionist Thonet originals. The chairs feature tubular metal frames, in brown paint finish, with upholst...
Metal
Mid-Century Set of High Back Dining Chairs
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This stylish set of four matching dining chairs offer a shapely vinyl covered seat, with comfortable high backs. Hardwood walnut frames with tapered legs and clean modern lines add t...
Wood
$2,471Sale Price / set|25% Off
H 41 in W 24 in D 24 in
French Country Dining Chairs Rush Seats Wheat Backs with Cushions Set of 8
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description click on More Details below. Shipping Quote Information The shipping quote stated in the listing was from 1st Dibs and they normally set all the costs and ...
Rush, Wood
20th Century Swedish Rococo Revival Wood Patinated Dining Chair
Located in High Point, NC
This 20th Century Swedish Rococo Revival dining chair showcases the graceful, sculptural lines characteristic of the style, enhanced by a beautifully aged, patinated finish. The carv...
Wood
Antique French Country Walnut Rush Seat Arm Chairs
Located in Southampton, NJ
Sweet pair of Antique Country French hand carved walnut rush seat armchairs with custom green velvet down filled cushions. Marvelously festive, solid reinforced joinery, ready for us...
Velvet, Rush, Walnut, Down
Set of Eight Italian Regency Lyre Back Classical Form Dining Chairs
Located in New York, NY
Collapsible steel frame chairs, with brass swan head "finials" and brass feet. Interesting mechanical furniture concept foreshadowing the Industrial Furniture Movement.
Steel, Brass