Classical Roman Cabinets

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.

Style: Classical Roman

Decortiche Continental Porcelain and Gilt Metal and Cherubs Compote Centerpiec

$4,400Sale Price|20% Off

Decortiche Continental Porcelain and Gilt Metal and Cherubs Compote Centerpiec

By Tiche, Porcelaine d'arte Milano

Located in Germantown, MD

Marked Decortiche (Tiche, Porcellane d’Arte). Roman Style Magnificent Centerpiece compote with oval bowl having a blue floral border and gilt metal rim on a bisque porcelain cherub f...

Category

Late 19th Century American Antique Classical Roman Cabinets

Materials

Metal

Large English antique oak kitchen cabinet / dresser from the 18th century

$4,212

Large English antique oak kitchen cabinet / dresser from the 18th century

Located in Harderwijk, NL

This stunning, large antique cabinet is made of oak and dates from the 18th century. In our opinion, it is a must-have for any interior! It fits perfectly in both classic and modern ...

Category

18th Century Antique Classical Roman Cabinets

Materials

Wood, Oak

Unique antique English cabinet on stand made of oak from the 17th century

$2,457

Unique antique English cabinet on stand made of oak from the 17th century

Located in Harderwijk, NL

A beautiful antique English cabinet made of oak. Thanks to its distinctive and unique appearance, it complements almost any interior and is a perfect addition for lovers of genuine E...

Category

17th Century Antique Classical Roman Cabinets

Materials

Wood, Oak

English Empire-Style Oak Cabinet From the Late 19th Century

$2,527Sale Price|20% Off

H 36.23 in W 41.74 in D 19.3 in

English Empire-Style Oak Cabinet From the Late 19th Century

Located in Opole, PL

English Empire-Style Oak Cabinet From the Late 19th Century An English Empire-style cabinet made of oak, dating back to the late 19th century. The semicircular piece of furniture fe...

Category

Late 19th Century British Antique Classical Roman Cabinets

Materials

Oak

Small French 17th Century Baroque Cabinet In Oak

$1,850 / item

H 43.31 in W 29.53 in D 17.72 in

Small French 17th Century Baroque Cabinet In Oak

Located in Haddonfield, NJ

European small carved baroque cabinet in oak wood, France circa 1680-1730. This hand carved cabinet has one drawer and a door. This piece features a lion head as a knob on the door, ...

Category

Early 18th Century French Antique Classical Roman Cabinets

Materials

Iron

Antique 17th Century Dutch Carved Ebonized Oak Credence Cabinet on Stand 1680

$3,995

H 63.5 in W 29 in D 16.5 in

Antique 17th Century Dutch Carved Ebonized Oak Credence Cabinet on Stand 1680

Located in Portland, OR

A good antique late 17th Century carved ebonized oak cabinet on stand, circa 1680. Such cabinets are commonly referred to as credence or chalice ...

Category

1690s Dutch Antique Classical Roman Cabinets

Materials

Oak

17th Century English Oak Aumbrey

$4,995

H 48.25 in W 48.25 in D 17.88 in

17th Century English Oak Aumbrey

Located in High Point, NC

17th century oak aubrey food cupboard from England. The top is simple and has pegged construction, following down to simply paneled sides and two wonderfully hand carved doors, which...

Category

17th Century English Antique Classical Roman Cabinets

Materials

Oak

18th Century French Provincial Oak Cupboard or Cabinet

$3,042

H 50.2 in W 50.79 in D 22.64 in

18th Century French Provincial Oak Cupboard or Cabinet

Located in Dusseldorf, DE

A French provincial Louis XV sideboard from the 18th century. Made of solid oak wood with waxed surface. Two-door side-cassetted corpus with rounded edges and slightly overhanging...

Category

18th Century French Antique Classical Roman Cabinets

Materials

Iron

Painted English Dresser Kitchen Hutch Painted Cabinet Farmhouse 1920

$1,957

H 65 in W 77 in D 21 in

Painted English Dresser Kitchen Hutch Painted Cabinet Farmhouse 1920

Located in Potters Bar, GB

Charming English country house dresser or hutch in a soft pale blue painted finish Perfect for that cozy cottage / farmhouse look Fully restored and bought from a private house sale ...

Category

1920s Vintage Classical Roman Cabinets

Materials

Paint

17th Century English Oak Joined Chest or Trunk

$4,895

H 24 in W 36.5 in D 18.75 in

17th Century English Oak Joined Chest or Trunk

Located in Austin, TX

A handsome English panel carved coffer or chest (trunk) of oak from the Jacobean period (King James II), featuring an iron-hinged, panel top, mounted t...

Category

17th Century British Antique Classical Roman Cabinets

Materials

Iron

17th Century Painted Oak Homme Debout Cabinet from Southwest France

$3,860

H 66.875 in W 35.75 in D 19.375 in

17th Century Painted Oak Homme Debout Cabinet from Southwest France

Located in Dallas, TX

A Homme debout is a two-bodied cabinet with a drawer separating the sections. This handsome Homme debout from southwest France was hand carved from oak in the 1600s. The period Louis...

Category

17th Century French Antique Classical Roman Cabinets

Materials

Wood, Paint

Antique 18th Century Welsh Oak Press Livery Housekeepers Cupboard Cabinet 1750

$4,900

H 71 in W 54 in D 21 in

Antique 18th Century Welsh Oak Press Livery Housekeepers Cupboard Cabinet 1750

Located in Portland, OR

A good Mid 18th century antique Georgian Welsh oak country press, housekeeper's cupboard, circa 1750. This very handsome country oak press has a sptrepped cornice, with a pair of arc...

Category

1750s Welsh Antique Classical Roman Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze & Metal Mounted Rosewood Cabinet Vitrine P.E. Guerin

$48,950Sale Price|42% Off

H 55.25 in W 53.25 in D 14.5 in

Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze & Metal Mounted Rosewood Cabinet Vitrine P.E. Guerin

By P. E. Guerin

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A very fine 19th century Louis XVI style gilt bronze and gilt metal mounted rosewood vitrine cabinet with malachite tops, by Pierre E. Guerin (1843-1911), in the manner of François Linke (1855-1946). The slender single-glazed front door tri-level vitrine 'Meuble d'Appui' cabinet fitted with three sectional malachite veneer tops (later) and glazed beveled-glass panels on the sides, surmounted with gilt-bronze and gilt-metal ornamental mounts with playful Putti amongst vines and leaves, ribbons, musical instruments, flowers, torches, masks, wreaths and acanthus, all raised on six fluted and tapered legs with gilt-bronze ring fittings and sabots. The apron mounts with a polychromed Verde-green background. The mounts marked 'P.E. Guerin 527 and other numerals. The interior with two glass shelves and a recent green velvet paneling. Circa: New York, 1890-1900. The marks on the bronze of this cabinet are from Pierre E. Guerin (1843-1911), who established his New York foundry in 1864 providing mounts for renowned cabinet makers such as Leon Marcotte and Pottier and Stymus...

Category

Early 1900s North American Antique Classical Roman Cabinets

Materials

Malachite, Metal, Bronze

Antique 18th Century German Baroque Oak Cabinet with Black Panels

$6,365Sale Price|20% Off

H 32.29 in W 46.86 in D 24.02 in

Antique 18th Century German Baroque Oak Cabinet with Black Panels

Located in Casteren, NL

A very handsome Baroque-style cabinet was made in Germany at the end of the 18th century. It has a detachable base with a drawer over bun feet. Above sits a compartment with two paneled doors flanked by barely twisted...

Category

Late 18th Century German Antique Classical Roman Cabinets

Materials

Steel

Beautiful Veneered, Ebonized and Parcel Gilt Television Cabinet

$12,500

H 90 in W 66 in D 18 in

Beautiful Veneered, Ebonized and Parcel Gilt Television Cabinet

Located in Palm Beach, FL

Superb burl veneered, parcel silver gilt and ebonized accented television cabinet with sliding hidden doors (when opened) and swivel television plat...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary North American Classical Roman Cabinets

Materials

Silver

Previously Available Items

Neoclassical Style Fluted Marble Column Side Table/Cabinet

Sold

H 22 in W 16 in D 16 in

Neoclassical Style Fluted Marble Column Side Table/Cabinet

Located in Southampton, NJ

Vintage Italian classical fluted column pedestal style side table with two door cabinet, single removable shelf and striking black Portoro marble top. Suitable for use as a small bar...

Category

Mid-20th Century Portuguese Classical Roman Cabinets

Materials

Belgian Black Marble

Vintage Italian Classical Round Marble Top Fluted Column Cabinet Pedestal Stand

Sold

H 22 in Dm 16 in

Vintage Italian Classical Round Marble Top Fluted Column Cabinet Pedestal Stand

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Vintage Italian Classical Style Round Marble Top Fluted Column Cabinet Pedestal Stand. Item features round marble top, solid wood fluted column cabinet, 2 swing doors, original label...

Category

Mid-20th Century North American Classical Roman Cabinets

Materials

Marble

Russian Neoclassical Commode with Marble Top

Sold

H 34.75 in W 45.5 in D 24 in

Russian Neoclassical Commode with Marble Top

Located in Houston, TX

Available are two Russian neoclassical style commodes, sold individually. These cabinets are an outstanding example of a select group of pieces decorated with architectural views, ma...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Classical Roman Cabinets

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Vintage Display Cabinet, English, Beech, Travertine, Breakfront, Classical

Sold

H 82.88 in W 74.81 in D 16.74 in

Vintage Display Cabinet, English, Beech, Travertine, Breakfront, Classical

Located in Hele, Devon, GB

This is a vintage display cabinet. An English, beech and travertine, breakfront cabinet in the classical taste and dating to the late 20th cent...

Category

Late 20th Century English Classical Roman Cabinets

Materials

Travertine

Italian Bassano Midcentury Cabinet Credenza Serpentine Blond Walnut with Inlaid

Sold

H 34.26 in W 47.25 in D 15.75 in

Italian Bassano Midcentury Cabinet Credenza Serpentine Blond Walnut with Inlaid

By Bassano's Ebanisteria

Located in Vigonza, Padua

1940s Italian Bassano entrance cabinet , curved credenza , in solid blond walnut and walnut slab with thread inlay in light maple wood, finished to wax Shaped sideboard in the shape ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Classical Roman Cabinets

Materials

Walnut

Antique French Boulle and Ormolu Figural Slate Top Display Cabinet, 20th Century

Sold

H 44 in W 28 in D 15 in

Antique French Boulle and Ormolu Figural Slate Top Display Cabinet, 20th Century

By André-Charles Boulle

Located in Big Flats, NY

Antique French Boulle figural display cabinet features black lacquer finish with Boulle over tortoise shell face, glass front door, with ormolu trim includi...

Category

19th Century French Antique Classical Roman Cabinets

Materials

Ormolu

Pair of Italian Continental Bombe Front Corner Cabinets

Sold

H 70 in W 28.5 in D 17.5 in

Pair of Italian Continental Bombe Front Corner Cabinets

Located in Stamford, CT

Pair of solid olive wood corner Italian Continental cabinets early 20th century, each has domed crest over two beveled glass doors open to shelving interior, atop a narrow frieze fit...

Category

Early 20th Century Italian Classical Roman Cabinets

Classical Roman cabinets for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Classical Roman cabinets for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage cabinets created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with belgian black marble, marble and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Classical Roman cabinets made in a specific country, there are Europe, and Portugal pieces for sale on 1stDibs. 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 cabinets differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,200 and tops out at $1,200 while the average work can sell for $1,200.