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.
Italian Grand Tour Bronze Figure of the Augustus of Prima Porta by A. Messina
By A. Messina
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
An Italian Grand Tour patinated bronze figure of the Augustus of Prima Porta by A. Messina, Roma late 19th century The standing emperor holding a staff in his left hand, wearing mili...
Marble, Bronze
21st Century Studio Irvine Fusto Rectangular Dining Table Cream Cement Color
Located in Rome, Lazio
Rectangular shape dining table part of a collection of modular system in ultra-high performing cement mortar. UHPC tabletop and base colored in the mixture and sandblasted. Available...
Concrete
Jesus, Mary & Joseph in Mid Century Modern Sculptural Fiberglass & Plaster C1955
By Holy Frères
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous tall life size Joseph with Mary kneeling cradling Baby Jesus in what was a nativity scene. Molded Fiberglass with a coat of plaster over and then painted. Detailed shrouded ...
Fiberglass, Plaster, Paint
Large Italian Glazed Terracotta Urn with Stylized Horse
By Urbino Workshop
Located in Houston, TX
Large Italian Glazed Terracotta Urn with stylized Horse. Italian glazed terracotta Urbino Maiolica style urn or vessel in muted colors with wel...
Terracotta
Set of two cowhide wingback chairs in English style with matching piping
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This set of two beautiful cowhide leather wingback armchairs in English style features matching piping and a distinctive, characterful appearance. They are fitted with loose seat cus...
Cowhide, Leather
Zabihi Collection Turkish Antique Oushak Carpet
Located in New York, NY
A truly divine antique Oushak masterpiece. Two identical scrolls in between an irregular set of palmettes running through coral ground with a delightful s...
Wool
French Plaster Male Torso
Located in Houston, TX
French Plaster Male Torso. Offered is a handsome large scale plaster torso sculpture of a classical male from France. This well executed academic plaster sculpture has a commanding p...
Plaster
"Diana, Hunting and Moon Goddess" - Antique Biscuit Porcelain Sculpture, 1800s
Located in Skien, NO
LARGE SIZE - Extraordinary art sculpture, figurine group, statue in primitive antique biscuit Porcelain from 1800s. RARE collectible centerpiece. Title: "Diana, Hunting and Moon God...
Porcelain
Pair of Architectural Ruins After Giovanni Battista Piranesi, Provenance
Located in Sofia, BG
Vintage Piranesi Architectural Ruins Prints : Framed Pair Provenance: Private Collection of a Noble Italian Family Beautiful pair of vintage prints after the celebrated Italian ...
Glass, Paper
Antique standing desk/ counter/ English writing table from the 19th century
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This beautiful and unique antique English freestanding piece of furniture dates back to the 19th century. A distinctive and atmospheric item that fits perfectly into almost any inter...
Wood
Cow leather armchair in Aviator design with patina and a warm appearance
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This cowhide leather armchair in Aviator design has a beautiful patina and a warm appearance. The armchair is a stylish and timeless addition to any interior, both in residential an...
Cowhide, Leather
$1,400Sale Price|20% Off
Large Roman Style Bronze Figural Architectural Element
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Large Roman style bronze figural architectural element, depicting a goddess holding on her head an acanthus column with a bronze urn cascading with ...
Bronze
Castilian Imports Bronze Column Candlesticks, 20th Century
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Castilian Imports Bronze Column Candlesticks. 20th Century.
Bronze, Iron
Antique Grand Tour Roman Figure Classical Bronze Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
Antique Grand Tour classical cast bronze Roman figural sculpture with laurel crown. Beautiful old patina throughout sculpture.
Bronze
Characterful sheepskin club armchair in a dark cognac colour in English style
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This English-style sheepskin leather club armchair features a beautiful dark cognac colour that enhances its classic appearance. The armchair has a loose seat cushion and is finished...
Sheepskin
White Marble Bust of a Roman Emperor, 20th Century
Located in Puglia, Puglia
A refined Carrara marble bust depicting a young Roman emperor, crafted with meticulous attention to detail and inspired by classical portraiture from antiquity. The face has harmoni...
Marble, Carrara Marble
Corinthian capital. Roman, southern Iberian Peninsula, 1st-3rd century AD. 36 cm
Located in BARCELONA, ES
Corinthian capital. Ancient Roman, southern Iberian Peninsula, 1st - 3rd century AD. Marble. Height 36 cm, width 35 cm and depth 25 cm. Condition Good state of preservation Prov...
Marble
Large Italian Grand Tour Style Mixed Marble Emperor Wall Plaque
Located in Bradenton, FL
Large heavy, approximately 300 pound, Italian Grand Tour Style Mixed Marble Round Emperor Wall Plaque. This plaque depicts the Roman emperor Vespasian. The mixed marble refers to a c...
Marble
$1,800 / set
David Foot Sculpture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Michelangelo David Foot Sculpture Art work at the Academia dal belle arte Venezia . sold as a set it was meant to be coffee table with the glass as a top . USA Continental in home de...
Gesso
21st Century Studio Irvine Fusto Concrete Pedestal Powder Beige Cement Handmade
Located in Rome, Lazio
Pedestal part of a collection of modular system in ultra high performing cement mortar. UHPC colored in the mixture and sandblasted. Available in eight different colors: Brick, silve...
Concrete
Vintage Brass & Copper Sun Clock Armillary Sun Dial on Wooden Base, German 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A decorative sculpture statue. Some wear with a nice patina, but this is old-age. Made of brass, copper, wrought iron and a wooden base. Found at an estate sale in Nuremberg, Germany...
Metal
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
Franco Tacchi Italian Florentine Painted and Partial Gilt Low Side Table
Located in Germantown, MD
A Mid Century Franco Tacchi Italian Florentine hand-painted giltwood side table with cabriole legs. Measures 13" in width, 13" in depth and 13" in height.
Wood, Paint
Set of 4 cowhide dining chairs made of grained leather with dark colours
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This set of 4 dining chairs is upholstered in dark grained cowhide leather, giving them a timeless appearance. The chairs feature a beautiful patina, fixed seat cushions, and decorat...
Cowhide, Leather
Sculpture of Large Male Torso Classical Style- made in Italy
Located in Tarquinia, IT
Torso maschile imponente, peso circa kg 800, scolpito su marmo bianco Carrara poggiante su base travertino Romano ispirato al Doriforo che si trova agli uffizi di Firenze. Original m...
Carrara Marble
Life Size Horse Head in Plaster on Pedestal
Located in Tilburg, NL
Wonderful large horse head in plaster. Big scale and great details and patina. The white plaster creates a beautiful interplay of light and shadows. Shows great movement in the way the head is depicted. Reminiscent of equivalent plaster casts of horse heads from the Parthenon frieze...
Plaster, Boxwood
Large Brass Horse Head Lamp "Caballinus"
Located in Norwalk, CT
Superb quality lamp featuring a heavy cast brass sculpture of a Roman-style horse head. Brass plaque attached to wooden base is engraved with the word CABALLINUS, horse in latin. Ver...
Brass
21st Century Studio Irvine Fusto Side Console Table Concrete Cement Brown Color
Located in Rome, Lazio
Console table part of a collection of modular system in ultra high performing cement mortar. UHPC shelves and abutment colored in the mixture and sandblasted. Available in eight diff...
Concrete
Antiquity of Roman Large Bust-Weight of Venus with Silver Inlaid Eyes, Germany
Located in Antwerp, BE
Large bust weight of Venus with silver inlaid eyes and celestial diadem, Roman culture, Germany, 2nd-3rd century AD. The Goddess is depicted nude, slightly gazing to her right with d...
Bronze
Decorative Art Tile, Roger Capron for Marazzi, Italy c. 1980
By Roger Capron
Located in St Ouen, FR
Unique decoration on earthenware made to order by the Artist for the famous Italian decorative ceramics firm Marazzi. We offer a total of 3 tiles from this series of extremely rare u...
Earthenware
1990s Bust of Roman General Hand Carved in Carrara White and Alicante Red Marble
Located in Marbella, ES
1990s bust of a Roman general, hand carved by craftsmen using Carrara white marble for the head and Alicante red for the toga, where the white and red contrast give movement and real...
Marble
Sabatino De Angelis Fils Grand Tour Bronze Oil Lamp
By Sabatino De Angelis
Located in Sarasota, FL
Grand tour ancient Roman oil lamp. Signed and dated 1905 by Sabatino de Angelis et Fil. Stunning quality bronze work.
Bronze
Flying Mercury, After Giambologna, Bronze Lamp, 19th Century
By Giambologna
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Bronze sculpture "Flying Mercury", after Giambologna, mounted as a lamp, on a green marble column base decorated with a bronze frieze, with allegories of the Arts. Wear and tear ...
Marble, Bronze
$833Sale Price|35% Off
Ceramic Wall Flower Shelf by Ginori - Eagle Shaped Shower
Located in Milano, MI
Wall-mounted eagle-shaped ceramic flower holder shelf made by Ginori - Shower. Majolica earthenware, decorated with polychrome glazes. Present imperfections as shown in photos. Ø cm...
Terracotta
Vintage Italian Bronze Wall Sculpture of Roman Warrior, 1970s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Whether this bronze wall plaque depicts a Roman Gladiator or Legionaire is uncertain. It was brought home from Rome in 1970 or 71. It is made from solid bronze that has a rich brown ...
Bronze
Concrete Domestic Landscape Fusto Console Dark Chocolate Cement Grey
Located in Rome, Lazio
Console table part of a collection of modular system in ultra high performing cement mortar. UHPC shelves and abutment colored in the mixture and sandblasted. Available in eight diff...
Concrete
Timeless armchair made of sheepskin leather with a English look
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This timeless sheepskin armchair with an elegant English style features a warm cognac colour and a beautiful patina. It shows some signs of use on the seat cushion and armrest, see p...
Leather, Sheepskin
21st Century Studio Irvine Concrete Circular Dining Table Powder Cement D123 cm
Located in Rome, Lazio
Rounded shape dining table 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 ...
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
C. 1920-30s French Tole Bouillotte Lamp
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1920-30s French tole bouillotte lamp. Charmingly hand painted in burnt orange & gilded in the Classical taste. Marked Made in France. Ring finial & arrow feather end motif adju...
Metal
Antique Italian Holy Water Font with Brass Relief and Candle Holders
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A gorgeous antique Italian holy water font created from wood and brass. The back of the font features brass decorations depicting the stations of the cross. At the center, Christ's c...
Brass
Richard Ginori Italian Porcelain Jewelry Dish in Gold and Green
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful Italian porcelain dish by designer Richard Ginori with emerald green center and gold decorative edge detail, circa Mid-20th century or earlier, Italy. Colors include gree...
Porcelain
Vintage Roman Classical Style Figural Cast Iron Twin Handle Charger Dish
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Roman Classical Style Figural Cast Iron Twin Handle Charger Dish. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 1.5" H x 13.75" W x 10.75" D.
Iron
$318Sale Price|20% Off
Naples Capodimonte Porcelain Lidded Tankard, Italy, Circa 1810
By Capodimonte
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a Naples (Capodimonte) Porcelain Lidded Tankard with deep relief body, which we date to the early 19th Century and made in Naples, Italy. The tankard is hand made with deep ...
Porcelain
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
1970s Handcrafted Black Marquina Marble Table Centerpiece, Fruit Bowl or Planter
Located in Lisse, NL
Stunning and multi-purpose, Italian marble tazza or deep bowl in a Roman Classical style. This remarkable centerpiece of classical beauty and elegance is one of the most striking an...
Marble
Early 20C Medici Print of Putti Under a Vine
Located in Dallas, TX
PRESENTING A GLORIOUS & RARE Early 20C Medici Print of ‘Putti Under a Vine’. From the very early 20th Century, circa 1911. Framed and sold by Foster Bro...
Paper
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 Studio Irvine Fusto Concrete Coffee Table Light Grey Cement Mod.II
Located in Rome, Lazio
Surrealism, primitivism, metaphysics and brutalism. Art together with architecture and design build a scenario of inspirations and continuous references through which the material ri...
Concrete
$801Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Olive Planter, Italian, Terracotta, Garden Jardiniere, Victorian, C.1900
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique olive planter. An Italian, terracotta garden jardiniere urn, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1900. Delightfully weathered Continental charm, with evoca...
Terracotta
Bust of a young woman. Ancient Rome, 2nd-4th century AD. 6.6 cm height. Bronze.
Located in BARCELONA, ES
Bust of a young woman. Ancient Rome, 2nd - 4th century AD. Bronze and Silver. Height 6.6 cm and 14 cm with the stand. Provenance: - Private collection, Mr. S. D., France, acquir...
Silver, Bronze
Concrete Domestic Landscape Studio Irvine Fusto Console Ink Cement Grey
Located in Rome, Lazio
Console table part of a collection of modular system in ultra high performing cement mortar. UHPC shelves and abutment colored in the mixture and sandblasted. Available in eight diff...
Concrete
Classical White Marble Corinthian Column Table Lamp, 1900
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Tall white marble Corinthian column table lamp This is heavy piece it is made in solid marble, the lamp has a single fluted marble corinthi...
Marble
21st Century Studio Irvine Fusto Side Console Table Concrete Cement Ultramarine
Located in Rome, Lazio
Console table part of a collection of modular system in ultra high performing cement mortar. UHPC shelves and abutment colored in the mixture and sandblasted. Available in eight diff...
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
Concrete Domestic Landscape Fusto Console Yellow Cream Cement
Located in Rome, Lazio
Console table part of a collection of modular system in ultra high performing cement mortar. UHPC shelves and abutment colored in the mixture and sandblasted. Available in eight diff...
Concrete
Pair of Stylishly Elongated and Midcentury Made Alabaster Table or Desk Lamps
Located in Lisse, NL
Great pair of midcentury made alabaster table or desk lamps in a timeless classical style. If you are looking for a great shape and practical Size pair of table lamps to grace you...
Alabaster
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 Console Table Mod, I Concrete Yellow Cement
Located in Rome, Lazio
Console table part of a collection of modular system in ultra high performing cement mortar. UHPC shelves and abutment colored in the mixture and sandblasted. Available in three diff...
Concrete
Practical old pine Dutch corner cabinet with nice details and patina
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This practical antique Dutch corner cabinet, made from pine wood, features beautiful detailing and a rich, attractive patina. Dating from the 19th century, the cabinet is fitted with...
Wood, Pine