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 Marble Pedestal Table, Porto Guaro Rosso
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Exquisite Marble Table that detaches in three pieces, the table top, the stand and the base. Italian marble artisan from the Porto Guaro Rosso di Levenza aria .
Marble
Mid-19th Century Italian Sorrento Center Table
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
The circular top with striking geometric inlay in three different woods creating an almost optical illusion of depth. The top rests on a turned inlaid column terminating in three spl...
Walnut
19th Century Italian Micro Mosaic Round Center Table with Ebonized Carved Base
Located in Milford, NH
An exceptional 19th century Italian micro mosaic round center table featuring architectural scenes from Rome including a central scene of Saint Peter’s Basilica with a brick red marb...
Stone, Marble
$9,372Sale Price|20% Off
Tavolo Marmo Bianco Ottagonale Intarsio Greca Giallo Oro Fatto a Mano da Cupioli
Located in Rimini, IT
White Marble Table Octagonal top and Lacquered Wooden Central Base . Imposing and enriched with refined accents, this extraordinary dining table creates a luxurious ambiance in a modern and classic dining room. This octagonal table has been manufactured using s very beatiful and selected kind of White pure marble...
Statuary Marble
Marble coffee table inlaid with floral motifs, Florence, 1970s
By Mice di rugiano domenico e c. s.n.c.
Located in Cantù, IT
Elegant coffee table with finely inlaid black marble top, decorated with fine polychrome floral motifs and visually striking symmetrical designs. The top features a rich interlacing ...
Stone, Marble, Wrought Iron
Tables Pair 99cm 39" Square Center Side Writing Gaming Elm 19Century Classical
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
Rare to find a pair of elm tables of classical form this size The simplicity of the classical form creates fluid lines and focusing the eye into the...
Elm
"Teoca" Coffee Table with Marble Top
By ADN Studio
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
The "Teoca" coffee table is part of ADN Studio´s Volcan collection. This collection seeks to go back to basics. It is a subtle and refined interpretation of the archetypical modern f...
Hardwood
Italian Table with Lion Pedestal Carved Base & Thick Round Glass Top
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian glass top dining table with lion motif carved base. This vintage table from Italy is topped with a 52" round-shaped glass (which is...
Glass, Wood
ebonized 19th Century Mahogany Round Center Empire Table with Marble Top
Located in Troy, MI
Found in France, this circa 1840s mahogany empire center table has a new, professionally applied ebonised finish. Gray and white streaked round marble top with a brass trimmed trefoi...
Marble, Brass
19th Century Regency Rosewood Pyramidal Base Center Table
By Thomas Hope
Located in Essex, MA
Period early 19th century English rosewood center table or breakfast table of Thomas Hope Pyramidal Form. Tilt top mechanism. Well matched Rosewood. Paw feet. All orginal Provenan...
Mahogany, Rosewood
Fine 19th Century Italian Inlaid Center Table, 1840
Located in Rome, IT
A fine 19th century Italian inlaid center table.
Wood
$16,660
H 30.32 in Dm 43.12 in
Important 19th Century Gilt Brass Dolphin Italian Carrara Marble Centre Table
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this important 19th century gilt brass Dolphin base French marble centre table A truly sublime table, the base is oak with solid gilt brass Dol...
Carrara Marble, Brass
Octagonal Italian Pietre Dure Mosaic Inlay Marble Table Top
Located in Marbella, ES
Octagonal Belgian black marble table top profusely decorated with Italian Pietre Dure mosaic inlays using green malachite, dark blue lapis, light b...
Marble
$3,900 / item
H 11.42 in Dm 45.28 in
Porto Center Table, by RAIN, Contemporary Center Table, Laminated Oakwood
By RAIN
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
Porto low tables are composed of a circular top that seems to rest on a sturdy oblong base. Lightness and weight overlap creating a harmonic and unconventional monoblock. The unagreement between the geometry of the elements generates irregular pieces capable of evoking movement, as they elude the gaze, changing according to the viewing angle. The tables give continuity to the Porto collection, whose inspiration comes from the weight and scale...
Wood
19th Century Italian Center Table with Marquetry
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
19th Century Center table with marquetry, Italy, Ca.1860 Walnut with fruit woods, Late 19th century Italian octagonal center table with...
Walnut
Tavolo rettangolare Novecento con foglia d'oro
Located in Firenze, FI
Il tavolo rettangolare è l'epitome dell'eleganza e della raffinatezza per il tuo spazio pranzo. Caratterizzato da una struttura robusta in ferro ch...
Iron
$14,850Sale Price|24% Off
H 31 in W 47.75 in D 28 in
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze-Mounted Center, Writing Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine French 19th century Louis XVI style ebonized gilt bronze-mounted tulipwood, kingwood and fruitwood floral marquetry single-drawer center table, desk or writing table. The ornately decorated marquetry top, centered with a floral bouquet, butterflies, scrolls and acanthus. The raised on four fluted ebonized legs surmounted with gilt-bronze spigots...
Bronze
$43,480Sale Price|20% Off
H 30.71 in W 43.71 in D 43.71 in
Tavolo attribuito a Guglielmo Ulrich per Arca
Located in Lugo, IT
Tavolo teca attribuito a Guglielmo Ulrich per Arca. La parte superiore in vetro si apre ed e possibile inserire fiori o altro all'interno. Nella parte superiore il legno si e mosso c...
Glass, Wood
Sold
H 29.5 in W 184 in D 72.75 in
Table Marble Specimen Classical Roman Strapwork 6ft3/4" long, 3ft5" wide
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
Striking table in the Roman classical style inset with beautiful earth palette marble specimens around a lapis lazulli centre Suitable for everyday use either outside or in an interi...
Marble
Late Roman Tiger Mosaic Table
Located in Chicago, IL
A rich composition of pink, cream, umber, and grey tesserae, this fragment of a late Roman mosaic looks as exquisite today as it did when it was laid in the 5th century. Masterfully ...
Stone, Cement
Etruscan Revival Specimen Marble Table
Located in Essex, MA
Circular top with geometric inlay over a base section with finely inlaid figural decoration ending on four acanthus carved legs and paw feet.
Other
Circa 1900 Italian Faux Marble Top Center or Dining Table
Located in Southampton, NY
Circa 1900, 1900 Italian Faux Marble Top Center or Dining Table