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.
21st Century Studio Irvine Fusto Bookcase Concrete Bookshelves Silver Cement
Located in Rome, Lazio
Bookcase part of a collection of modular system in ultra-high performing cement mortar. UHPC tabletop and base colored in the mixture and sandblasted. Available in eight different co...
Concrete
21st Century, Studio Irvine Fusto Bookcase Concrete Bookshelves Brown Cement
Located in Rome, Lazio
Bookcase part of a collection of modular system in ultra-high performing cement mortar. UHPC tabletop and base colored in the mixture and sandblasted. Available in eight different co...
Concrete
21st Century Studio Irvine Fusto Bookcase Concrete Bookshelves Powder Cement
Located in Rome, Lazio
Bookcase part of a collection of modular system in ultra-high performing cement mortar. UHPC tabletop and base colored in the mixture and sandblasted. Available in eight different co...
Concrete
21st Century Studio Irvine Fusto Bookcase Mod.I Concrete Bookshelf Green Cement
Located in Rome, Lazio
Bookcase part of a collection of modular system in ultra-high performing cement mortar. UHPC tabletop and base colored in the mixture and sandblasted. Available in eight different co...
Concrete
21st Century Studio Irvine Fusto Bookcase Concrete Bookshelves Ink Grey Cement
Located in Rome, Lazio
Bookcase part of a collection of modular system in ultra-high performing cement mortar. UHPC tabletop and base colored in the mixture and sandblasted. Available in eight different co...
Concrete
21st Century, Studio Irvine Fusto Bookcase Mod.i Concrete Bookshelf Ink Cement
Located in Rome, Lazio
Bookcase part of a collection of modular system in ultra-high performing cement mortar. UHPC tabletop and base colored in the mixture and sandblasted. Available in eight different co...
Concrete
21st Century Studioirvine Fusto Bookcase Concrete Bookshelves Ultramarine Cement
Located in Rome, Lazio
Bookcase part of a collection of modular system in ultra-high performing cement mortar. UHPC tabletop and base colored in the mixture and sandblasted. Available in eight different co...
Concrete
21st Century Studio Irvine Fusto Bookcase Mod.I Concrete Bookshelf Cream Cement
Located in Rome, Lazio
Bookcase part of a collection of modular system in ultra-high performing cement mortar. UHPC tabletop and base colored in the mixture and sandblasted. Available in eight different co...
Concrete
21st Century Studio Irvine Fusto Bookcase Concrete Bookshelves Yellow Cement
Located in Rome, Lazio
Fusto Bookshelf II is part of a collection of modular system in ultra high performing cement mortar. UHPC tabletop and base colored in the mixture and sandblasted. Each item is hand treated and is protected with water repellent products to reduce the absorption of oily substances and to minimise the making of stains. Fusto is the series that introduces the new design approach. As in classical architecture, Fusto is the column that holds tables, consoles, bookcases and pedestals. Volumes and proportions are integrated in a timeless geometry, enriched with facets that make the colour vibrate in a game of lights and shadows. Fusto is eternal architecture. Designer: Marialaura Rossiello, Studio Irvine...
Concrete
21st Century, Studio Irvine Fusto Bookcase Mod.i Concrete Bookshelf Brown Cement
Located in Rome, Lazio
Bookcase part of a collection of modular system in ultra-high performing cement mortar. UHPC tabletop and base colored in the mixture and sandblasted. Available in eight different co...
Concrete
21st Century Studio Irvine Fusto Bookcase Mod.I Concrete Bookshelf Beige Cement
Located in Rome, Lazio
Bookcase part of a collection of modular system in ultra-high performing cement mortar. UHPC tabletop and base colored in the mixture and sandblasted. Available in eight different co...
Concrete
21st Century Studio Irvine Fusto Bookcase Concrete Bookshelves Fir Green Cement
Located in Rome, Lazio
Bookcase part of a collection of modular system in ultra-high performing cement mortar. UHPC tabletop and base colored in the mixture and sandblasted. Available in eight different co...
Concrete
21st Century Studio Irvine Fusto Bookcase Mod.I Concrete Bookshelf Blue Cement
Located in Rome, Lazio
Bookcase part of a collection of modular system in ultra-high performing cement mortar. UHPC tabletop and base colored in the mixture and sandblasted. Available in eight different co...
Concrete
21st Century Studio Irvine Fusto Bookcase Mod.I Concrete Bookshelf Grey Cement
Located in Rome, Lazio
Bookcase part of a collection of modular system in ultra-high performing cement mortar. UHPC tabletop and base colored in the mixture and sandblasted. Available in eight different co...
Concrete
21st Century Studio Irvine Fusto Bookcase Concrete Bookshelves Brick Red Cement
Located in Rome, Lazio
Bookcase part of a collection of modular system in ultra-high performing cement mortar. UHPC tabletop and base colored in the mixture and sandblasted. Available in eight different co...
Concrete
21st Century Studio Irvine Fusto Bookcase Mod.I Concrete Bookshelf Red Cement
Located in Rome, Lazio
Bookcase part of a collection of modular system in ultra-high performing cement mortar. UHPC tabletop and base colored in the mixture and sandblasted. Available in eight different co...
Concrete
Willy Guhl Concrete Octagonal Vase
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Concrete vase by Willy Guhl. Made of fiber cement. 8 sided with small base. Great vintage condition. Great oversized vase.
Cement
$3,828
H 112.01 in W 64.77 in D 15.56 in
Italian Teak, Black Metal and Brass Midcentury Bookshelves Roomdivider
By Franco Albini and Franca Helg, Poggi
Located in Varese, Lombardia
This bookshelves was produced in Italy by SELEX in the 1960s. Thanks to its adjustable height ( 278 - 284,5 /285 cm max) it can be placed against a wall or anywhere in a room, used ...
Brass, Metal
$2,111
H 37.41 in W 31.5 in D 12.6 in
Art Deco Mid-Century Modern Bookshelf Bookcase Walnut Turned Restored Shellac
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Art Deco Mid-Century Modern bookshelf bookcase in walnut turned and restored and shellac polished Measures console cm: H 95, W 80, D 32.
Walnut
$2,073
H 36.82 in W 33.47 in D 12.8 in
Sheraton Revival Burr Elm Walnut Inlay Dwarf Library Open Bookcase Bookshelf
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for this lovely Burr Elm, Walnut inlaid, Sheraton Revival style dwarf open library bookcase A very good looking well made and decorative piece, the shelf is height adjustable and or removable so it can be adjusted to take any size books/ Each piece is in light mahogany with lovely walnut Sheraton inlay...
Elm, Walnut
Modular Storage 'KOU' Made of Concrete
By Bentu Design
Located in Paris, IDF
'KOU' is a modular storage made of concrete by Bentu Design [Blocks sold individually] Dimension of one block: 36 x 36 x 26cm Bentu Design's furnitu...
Concrete
Secession Bookshelf
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Secession bookshelf professionally stained and repolished.
Wood
Pair of Patinated Iron and Pine Bakers Rack or Bookshelves
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Artisan crafted pair of iron and pine bakers racks or bookshelves for display. Beautifully crafted with an intentionally patinated finish on the ironand an aged bleached finish on th...
Iron
Red Bookcase by Rejo Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Red Bookcase by Rejo Studio Dimensions: D 180 x W 45 x H 145 cm Materials: Wood Also Available in different colour. REJO is a design studio based in Ri...
Wood
$11,200
H 28.15 in W 27.37 in D 9.85 in
Rosewood Wall Bookshelf by Celina Decorações, Brazilian Mid-Century, 1960s
Located in New York, NY
This charming bookshelf, manufactured by Celina Decorações in the 1960s, is composed of a solid wood structure with Rosewood veneers. The piece is co...
Rosewood
Marianne Bookshelf by Mingardo
Located in Geneve, CH
Marianne bookshelf by Mingardo Dimensions: D62 x W30 x H240 cm Materials: Matte nickel structure, tempered glass shelves. Natural brass details w...
Brass, Nickel
Willy Guhl Orange Concrete Bookcase, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful set of painted concrete cubes in a pastel orange by Swiss architect and designer Willy Guhl. Handmade in the early 1960s in Switzerland. Produced by Eternit. Set of 9 cubes...
Concrete
$10,882 / item
H 64.97 in Dm 18.9 in
MYDNA, Bookshelves, Standing Shelf, Storage System in Black Wood, Joel Escalona
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
MYDNA is a chic and contemporary storage system inspired by the DNA concept: both by its sophisticated double helix shape, and by the metaphorical statement that everything you place...
Plywood
Sold
H 64.57 in W 13 in D 13.19 in
1987 Babele Glass Shelves by Massimo Morozzi, Fiam Italia Bookcase Large Piece
By Massimo Morozzi, FIAM
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely 1987 Babele glass shelf designed by Massimo Morozzi for Fiam Italia. Babele is a classic tower display unit in 10 mm-thick curved gl...
Glass