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 Concrete Circular Dining Table Powder Cement Handmade
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 Concrete Rectangular Dining Table Green Cement
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
21st Century Studio Irvine Concrete Circular Dining Table Green Cement handmade
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 Rectangular Cement Table Concrete Powder 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
21St Century Studio Irvine Fusto Rectangular Dining Table Red Brick 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
21st Century Concrete Oval Shape Table Powder Cement Color Handmade in Italy
Located in Rome, Lazio
A new addition to the Fusto Line: oval shaped dining table part of a collection of modular system in ultra-high performing cement mortar. UHPC tabletop and base colored in the mixtur...
Concrete
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 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
21st Century Studio Irvine Concrete Circular Dining Table Red Cement Handmade
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 Rectangular Dining Table Ink 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
21st Century Studio Irvine Concrete Circular Dining Table Ultramarine Cement
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 Concrete Circular Dining Table Silver Cement Handmade
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 Rectangular Dining Table Brown 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
$39,487 / item
H 29.53 in W 109.85 in D 46.46 in
Flight Dining Table by Sabrina Landini, Art Silver Glass Rose, Handmade Italy
Located in Pietrasanta, IT
FLIGHT the new gem home! coffee, dining, console Nearly 25 years ago the first beauxobjets were created in Sabrina Landini's workshop, just a stone's throw away from the Milano Na...
Art Glass
$9,000
H 30 in W 96 in D 44 in
Large Rectangular Double Pedestal Travertine Dining or Conference Table
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Outstanding large Mid-Century Modern 1.5" thick travertine marble top dining table.
Travertine
$17,821 / item
H 30.71 in W 63 in D 94.89 in
Maurits Oval Marquetry Table in Reclaimed Oak from Old Italian Wine Barrels
By Fred&Juul
Located in Fiesole, Florence
Inspired by the work of Escher, with Maurits we want to prove that a table doesn’t have to be antique to be an impressive testimony of craftsmanship. The marquetry table top in reclaimed Oak contains 381 rhombi cut from old Italian wine barrels. The brass legs compose a delicate inverse coronation. Handmade by master craftsmen in Tuscany, Italy. Standard base materials: black powder-coated iron and brass. Standard sizes: diameter 160 cm / 5'3" (suits 8...
Metal, Brass
$25,995Sale Price|10% Off
H 29 in W 130 in D 46 in
Vienna Oval Dining Table in Smoked Walnut and Cast Bronze by Studio Roeper
Located in Napa, CA
With it’s elegant curves and clean lines, the VIENNA Oval Dining Table is a perfect match for interiors that exhibit a sensuous and sophistica...
Bronze
Vintage Modern Double Pedestal Dining Table with Rectangular Glass Top
Located in Topeka, KS
Gorgeous vintage Modern double pedestal rectangular glass top dining table comprised of speckled solid surface material square c...
Glass, Corian
$11,482 / item
H 29.53 in W 86.62 in D 35.44 in
21st Century S3 Laquered Iron Dining Table / Desk Green Blue Yellow Silver Pink
Located in Roma, IT
Handmade lacquered iron table, obtained by bending a single metal sheet. Dimensions and colors customizable on request.
Iron
Mid-Century Modern Oval Dining Table in Bamboo & Brass
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A large and impressive dining table, circa 1950's. The table top is in a race track oval form and wrapped in nailed pencil reed. The top has an inlayed brass plate and the bass is pa...
Brass, Bronze
$26,206 / item
H 28.75 in W 110.24 in D 47.25 in
21st Century Filippo Feroldi Brass Table 280 Glass Top Various Colors
Located in Brembate di Sopra (BG), IT
21st Century Filippo Feroldi Brass Table 280 Back-coloured Glass Top Various Colors Designed by Filippo Feroldi for Purho and Colleoni Arte, Holo 280 is a table with generous dimensi...
Brass
Circular Walnut Expanding Dining Table "Concord Dining Table"
By Anton Maka
Located in Shelby Twp, MI
The concord expanding dining table is made of a solid walnut top with solid walnut leaves to be added for extra surface area. The legs are made of solid wa...
Walnut
James de Wulf Concrete 3-Piece Locking Round Table, 102"
Located in Paia, HI
The update to our classic Locking Round table of epic proportions. This custom, brutally giant table is made for superhero assemblage, supervillain congregation, and the most lavish ...
Concrete
Italian Modern Glass and Aluminium Rectangular Table
Located in Boston, MA
The Long Island table, designed by Giuseppe Bavuso, is a perfect table for dining or conference areas. With a sleek, refined look, consistent with Rimadesio’s philosophy, the long Is...
Aluminum
G-Table by Zieta, Brushed Inox Base and Concrete Top
By Oskar Zieta, Zieta
Located in Paris, IDF
"G-Table BC" contemporary dining table by Zieta Prozessdesign Base: brushed stainless steel (inox) Top: concrete (picture of the sample attached) Measures: 75 x 220 x110 cm. ...
Concrete, Stainless Steel
Large Marble-Top Italian Table
Located in New York, NY
Marble top with cast stone pedestal bases. Could be used as a large dining table or conference or work table as well. Top 2"- thick.
Concrete, Marble