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 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 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 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
$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
$11,440 / 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
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
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
$26,176 / 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
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
$14,750 / item
H 29.53 in W 86.62 in D 35.44 in
Long Dining Table 'DING' Made of Concrete and Aluminum
By Bentu Design
Located in Paris, IDF
'DING' is a collection of tables: coffee / side tables, dining tables, bar tables. The base is in concrete and the structure and to top in aluminum (black). by Bentu design Tab...
Concrete, Aluminum
G-Table by Zieta, Brushed Inox Base and Concrete Top
By Zieta, Oskar 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
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
$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
"À Table" Dining Table
By Project 213A
Located in Macieira de Sarnes, PT
À table - dining table. An asymmetric table top standing on five oval legs. Each segment carved from an individual piece of cherry wood to showcase the natura...
Cherry
$99,203 / item
H 30.01 in W 89.77 in D 77.29 in
NR, 21st Century European Black Circular Custom-Made Contemporary Dining Table
Located in Sofia, BG
NR - 21st century European black circular modern custom made contemporary dining table As a larger counterpart of an NR low table, NR dining table is ...
Aluminum
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