There is rare surviving furniture from ancient Greece, yet this classical style has informed design for centuries. Interiors of houses in antiquity were minimal, with much of a room’s color coming from frescoes on the walls and mosaics on the floors. Classical Greek furniture was sparing but finely crafted and influenced by Egyptian furniture design through Mediterranean trade.
Furnishings of the period were usually made from local wood like cypress, cedar, oak and willow from ancient Greece’s plentiful forests, although some pieces were carved from marble, such as a 300–200 B.C. throne with lion legs and a curved back now at the Getty Villa. Comfort and clean lines characterized designs during the Classical era, the symmetry and thoughtful proportions reflecting the architecture of Greek temples.
Some pieces of ancient Greek furniture were simple, rectangular platforms like the klinē, a multipurpose ancestor of today’s couches or daybeds that held cushions stuffed with wool, dry grass or down. These structures were used for both sleeping and dining, which wealthy Greeks did while reclining. At night, oil lamps illuminated rooms that frequently surrounded a garden courtyard.
Most of what scholars have learned about Greek furniture design owes to its representations in art like vases and stelae. The portable diphros stool, with its backless design and four turned legs, was one of the more common types of seating in daily Greek life — it appears as such for the gods on the Parthenon frieze. Stools without backs have been found in early Roman tombs, while benches were also common Greek seating furniture created for use in theaters. In houses of the Hellenistic period, benches seemingly functioned as tables, too.
Some designs evolved through adaptations by the Romans, including the klismos chair. After prominent archaeological excavations at Pompeii and Herculaneum, the klismos chair — with its four saber legs and the elegant curves that define its back — was a source of inspiration for aesthetics in eras ranging from 18th-century neoclassicism to 20th-century Art Deco.
Find a collection of Classical Greek decorative objects, wall decorations and building and garden elements on 1stDibs.
$679 / item
Rattan Side Table with Black Laquered Top
Located in Oxford, GB
Introducing our Rattan Side Table with Black Laquered top and the legs are wrap with natural cane rattan, this piece of furniture brings a touch of nature to your home. With its cl...
Rattan, Wood
$1,381 / set
Corinthian capital side tables, 1970s
Located in Den Haag, NL
Add a classic touch to your decor with this cast Plaster Corinthian capital tables with a gold finish and fine Mirror top. The Mirror top can easily be removed should you wish to c...
Plaster
$237Sale Price|40% Off
H 25 in W 12 in D 12 in
Restored Pre-WWII Rattan "Twin Arch" Side Table with Solid Mahogany Top
By Paul Frankl
Located in Van Nuys, CA
This mid-century rattan square side table boasts a mahogany tabletop held by twin arch side rattan poles, evoking the style of Paul Frankl. Professionally restored in 2019, it combin...
Rattan, Mahogany
1970s Fully Restored Danish Rosewood Side Table
Located in Knebel, DK
1970s fully restored Danish rosewood side table Elegant, minimalistic well crafted small Danish sidetable table. The side table has been fully restored and refinished by our cabi...
Mahogany
Spanish Rattan Round Stool / Side Table with Cane Top, 1950s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Spanish Modernist handcrafted stool with wicker wire top, rattan, bamboo. Spain, 1960s-1970s. This cool rattan round stool features bamboo structure with a canage top. This piece wil...
Bamboo, Wicker, Rattan
$1,250
H 20 in W 27.5 in D 20 in
Antique Chinese Ming Dynasty Style Waisted Side Table with Woven Rattan Top
Located in Yonkers, NY
An antique Chinese Ming Dynasty style waisted side table from the early 20th century, with woven rattan top, humpbacked stretcher and horse hoof legs. Born in China during the early ...
Wood, Rattan
1970s Burl Wood Cube Side Tables, a Pair
Located in North Canton, OH
Beautiful Book Matched Exotic Burl Wood Cube side Tables, unmarked
Burl
Max Sauze isocele side table , 1970s
By Max Sauze
Located in Delft, NL
Max Sauze isocele side table , 1970s
Metal
Brutalist solid wood side table / stool , 1970s
Located in Delft, NL
Brutalist solid wood side table /stool , 1970s
Wood
Small Double-top Rattan Side Table
Located in New York, NY
Small double-top rattan side table with woven panels on the sides. In good vintage condition. 1970s.
Rattan
Vintage Rattan Side Table with 3 Shelves
Located in Miami, FL
Mid-century side table with 3 shelves. Made in the USA circa 1970's. Perfect in any room as well as next to a sofa or in any bathroom. Measures; 33 1/2" H x 17" W x 13" D
Rattan
Late 1970s Black Lacquer Postmodern Side Table
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage black lacquer postmodern side table. Circa Late 1970s. Features a geometric x-shape designed pedestal with a black glossy lacquer finish, a...
Glass, Lacquer
Carved Corinthian Capital Side Table with Round Carrara Marble Top
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Side table, having a round top of Carrara marble, on a base of silvergiltwood, with distressed finish, carved as a Corinthian capital. Stock ID: D1795
Carrara Marble
On Hold|$595
H 24.5 in W 24 in D 24 in
Postmodern End or Side Table with Mirror Top & Black Laquered Pedestal Base
Located in Topeka, KS
Marvelous vintage Postmodern end or side table comprised of a black lacquered pedestal base with beveled edges & gold base trim and a rounded square shaped top with gold trim edges and mirror surface. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that this is vintage and not new so will have signs of use and wear even if it has been refinished or restored. No outstanding flaws seen but there are a couple small dots on the mirrored top where the silvering is missing along with some scratches, and a few scuffs in the black paint. Please see photos, zoom in for details, and see long description as they are part of the condition report. We attempt to portray any imperfections. Circa, Late 20th Century. Mirror, Mirror on the…. End Table?? That’s right folks! It doesn’t get any more 1980’s than this little gem!!! Only the coolest houses had furniture with mirror...
Composition
Sold
H 16 in W 19.5 in D 16 in
Landgrave Cast Classics Aluminum Leafy Scroll Green Garden Patio Side Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Landgrave Cast Classics Heavy Aluminum Leafy Scroll Green Garden Patio Side Table. Circa Late 20th Century. Measurements: 16" H x 19.5" W x 16" D.
Aluminum
T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings Trapeza Table by Saridis of Athens
Located in Philadelphia, PA
T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings Trapeza table by Saridis of Athens with cloven foot legs in the style of ancient Greek furniture produced in limited numbers in the ...
Walnut