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.
Hand-Crafted Sheepskin Leather Wingback Chair, Classical Roman Style
Located in Harderwijk, NL
Offered: this characterful sheepskin leather wingback armchair with a dark warm colour scheme and a beautiful patina. This lovely sheepskin wingback chair is a stylish and comfortabl...
Leather, Sheepskin
Comfortable Vintage English-Style Sheepskin Leather Wingback Armchair
Located in Harderwijk, NL
Who could possibly resist such a beautifully warm-colored sheepskin leather wingback armchair? We certainly can't! This fantastic vintage wingback chair boasts timeless English charm...
Leather, Sheepskin
Vintage Sheepskin Leather Wingback Chair, Hand-Crafted, 20th Century
Located in Harderwijk, NL
Offered: this wonderful, characterful vintage sheepskin leather wingback armchair with a beautiful patina. This stunning sheepskin leather wingback chair is the perfect addition for ...
Leather, Sheepskin
Cowhide Leather Wingback Armchair, Hand-Crafted, Classical Roman Style
Located in Harderwijk, NL
Offered here is this classic and unique leather wingback armchair, beautifully finished with decorative studs and fine detailing. Thanks to its timeless yet elegant design, this fant...
Cowhide, Leather
Hand-Crafted Sheepskin Leather Wingback Chair in Good Condition
Located in Harderwijk, NL
Offered: this comfortable sheepskin leather wingback armchair with a beautiful warm colour palette and refined stitching on the sides. This luxurious wingback chair, crafted from she...
Leather, Sheepskin
Hand-Crafted Brown Cowhide Leather Chesterfield Wingback Chair
Located in Harderwijk, NL
Offered: this luxurious, warm-toned brown cowhide leather Chesterfield wingback armchair with unique details. This large, classic Chesterfield wingback armchair offers a true sense o...
Cowhide, Leather
Sheepskin Wingback Chair with Warm Tones and Black Piping
Located in Harderwijk, NL
Offered here is this large and luxurious sheepskin wing chair featuring a beautiful warm color palette and finished with elegant nailhead trim and black piping. This stunning, spacio...
Leather, Sheepskin
Comfortable wingback chair in English style made of cowhide leather
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This cowhide leather wingback chair is a timeless eye-catcher that, in our opinion, should not be missing from any interior. Thanks to its colours and sleek finish with matching pipi...
Cowhide, Leather
Very beautiful wing chair made of cowhide leather in English style
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This cowhide leather wing chair is a timeless eye-catcher that, in our opinion, should not be missing from any interior. Thanks to its colours and sleek finish with matching piping, ...
Leather, Sheepskin
Large and comfortable sheepskin leather wingback chair with black piping
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This wonderful, luxurious sheepskin wingback armchair in a beautiful large size is a stylish and comfortable addition to almost any interior. The refined finish with black piping and...
Leather, Sheepskin
Comfortable Vintage Sheepskin Wingback Chair with a Beautiful Color
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This amazing sheepskin wingback armchair is a true eye-catcher that should not be missing from any interior. It embodies timeless style and elegance. The armchair features a beautif...
Leather, Sheepskin
Hand-Crafted Wingback Chair in Cowhide Leather, Good Condition
Located in Harderwijk, NL
Offered is this unique and comfortable wingback armchair, crafted from cowhide leather and finished with decorative nails and beautiful detailing. Thanks to its timeless yet stylish ...
Cowhide, Leather
Charming sheepskin leather wingback chair with warm colours
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This sheepskin leather wingback armchair is the perfect addition for lovers of timeless English charm. It can be easily placed in almost any interior in the room of your choice. This...
Leather, Sheepskin
Wingback chair made of sheep leather with black piping in good condition
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This stunning sheepskin leather wingback armchair, in a beautiful large size, is a stylish and comfortable addition to any interior. The refined finish with black piping and decorati...
Leather, Sheepskin
Vintage Sheepskin Leather Wingback Chair, Hand-Crafted, Fair Condition
Located in Harderwijk, NL
Offered here this characterful and comfortable large vintage sheepskin leather wingback armchair with beautiful colors and luxurious detailing. This wingback chair is crafted from s...
Leather, Sheepskin
Hand-Crafted Dark English-Style Sheepskin Wingback Armchair
Located in Harderwijk, NL
Offered here is a luxurious, classic, and comfortable dark English-style sheepskin wingback armchair, full of character and featuring a beautiful patina. This sheepskin armchair embr...
Leather, Sheepskin
English Chesterfield Wingback Chair in Cowhide Leather
Located in Harderwijk, NL
Offered: this elegant, smooth, and comfortable English Chesterfield wingback armchair made of cowhide leather, with graceful legs. This stylish English Chesterfield wingback chair of...
Cowhide, Leather
Luxury and large cowhide leather wingback chair in English style
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This beautiful and large wingback armchair is made of high-quality cow leather and can be easily placed in both classic and modern interiors. It features a beautiful and unique colou...
Cowhide, Leather
Vintage Sheepskin Wingback Chair, Hand-Crafted, 20th Century Style
Located in Harderwijk, NL
Are you looking for a comfortable sheepskin wingback chair with warm colors, beautifully finished with decorative nail trim, and featuring a loose seat cushion? If so, you may have f...
Leather, Sheepskin
Set of 2 Cowhide Leather Wingback Chairs in English Style
Located in Harderwijk, NL
Offered: this luxurious set of two comfortable burgundy leather wingback armchairs in English style, featuring a stunning patina. Made from high-quality cowhide leather and finished ...
Cowhide, Leather
Bordeaux Red Cowhide Leather Wingback Chair in English Style
Located in Harderwijk, NL
Offered for sale is this beautiful and comfortable Bordeaux red wingback chair in English style, boasting a stunning patina. This luxurious and comfortable wingback chair is crafted ...
Cowhide, Leather
Bordeaux Red Cowhide Wingback Chair in English Style
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This charming and comfortable bordeaux red cowhide wingback armchair in English style, featuring a beautiful patina. This luxurious and comfortable armchair is crafted from high-qual...
Cowhide, Leather
Cognac-Colored Cowhide Leather Wingback Chair in English Style
Located in Harderwijk, NL
Offered here is this stylish and well-maintained cognac-colored cowhide leather wingback armchair in classic English style with decorative studs. This beautiful armchair features a...
Cowhide, Leather
Cowhide Leather Wingback Chair in Light Cognac Color
Located in Harderwijk, NL
Looking for a charming and stylish place to relax? Then this full-grain leather wingback armchair is a fantastic addition to your home! Its light cognac color and matching piping giv...
Cowhide, Leather
$5,332 / set
H 44.1 in W 31.89 in D 35.83 in
VINTAGE OXBLOOD CLAW & BALL FEET DAMASK LEATHER WiNGBACK ARMCHAIR & FOOTSTOOL
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this stunning English Oxblood leather with Majestic Damask Gold leather pattern Wingback armchair and matchi...
Leather
$5,062
H 42.13 in W 30.71 in D 30.71 in
Fully Restored Vintage Chesterfield Porters Wingback Armchair Brown Leather
By Chesterfield
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning vintage Porters barrel back armchair in whisky brown leather This chair a real tour de force, is has absolutely everything going ...
Leather
$3,375
H 43.31 in W 33.86 in D 31.89 in
COMFORTABLE ViNTAGE RESTORED BROWN LEATHER TUFTED CHESTERFIELD WINGBACK ARMCHAIR
By Chesterfield
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this stunning fully restored vintage Chesterfield tufted Cigar brown leather wingback armchair. Please note...
Leather
$7,062
H 42.13 in W 27.56 in D 28.35 in
Børge Mogensen Wingback Chair in Teak & Leather, Scandinavian Design
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Børge Mogensen wingback chair new upholstered with walnut elegance leather. Legs in teak. Model 2204, made by Fredericia Furniture.
Leather, Teak
Mid-20th Century Chippendale Wingback Chairs in Walnut & Damask
By Kindel Furniture, Dunbar Furniture, Baker Furniture Company
Located in Southampton, NJ
Unique Chippendale style pair of chairs with lovely small scale silhouettes, curved stretchers in golden butter Damask upholstery. We love the Georgian design elements in the curved ...
Damask, Walnut
Georgian Style Tufted Cigar Leather Wingback Chair and Ottoman
By Schafer Brothers
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Handsomely aged Georgian tufted wingback chair and matching ottoman crafted by Schafer Bros. The large armchair features a mahogany hardwood frame with fully developed wings and a ge...
Brass
Ralph Lauren Style Cigar Leather Wingback Writers Chair
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Perfectly aged and weathered cigar leather wing back reclining writers chair made in the manner, style, and size of Ralph Lauren by Restoration Hardware. The iconic chair features a ...
Brass
English Regency Wingback Armchair on Casters, Circa 1820
Located in Atlanta, GA
This English wingback armchair dates to the Regency period, circa 1820, and exemplifies the generous proportions and enveloping comfort characteristic of early 19th-century English s...
Brass
$960Sale Price|20% Off
H 45 in W 32.25 in D 32 in
Queen Anne Mahogany Fireside Upholstered Wingback Chair, 20th Century
Located in Big Flats, NY
A Queen Anne style fireside wingback chair offers upholstered chair with scroll form arms and raised on mahogany cabriole legs terminating in pad feet, 20th Century. Measures- 45''H...
Mahogany, Upholstery
Antique Blue Leather Wingback Chair
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Generously proportioned antique wingchair with Mahogany frame and original blue leather upholstery. Serpentine top above a deep back, upholstered scroll arms with nail head detail th...
Metal
$6,200 / set
H 41 in W 26 in D 30 in
Pair of Modern Gio Ponti Style Leather and Upholstery Wingback Chairs
By Gio Ponti
Located in San Francisco, CA
A pair of stylish and comfortable modern wingback chairs in the unique design style of Gio Ponti. Two-tone, tan leather with ivory color upholstery, and ebonized legs. Contemporary...
Leather, Upholstery
$2,480Sale Price|20% Off
H 45 in W 28 in D 29 in
French Louis XV Style Walnut Wingback Bergere Chair, Early 20th Century
Located in Vero Beach, FL
French Louis XV style walnut wingback Bergere chair, early 20th century Large and well proportioned finely carved walnut wingback bergere armchair. The sturdy frame is decorated wit...
Walnut
Sold
H 40.56 in W 31.89 in D 35.83 in
Set of 2 Cowhide Leather Wingback Chairs + Ottoman in English Style
Located in Harderwijk, NL
Offered: this luxurious set of two comfortable burgundy leather wingback armchairs with matching ottoman in English style, featuring a stunning patina. Made from high-quality cowhide...
Cowhide, Leather