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 coffee table with Roman Corinthian capital in stone and glass
Located in Milano, IT
Italian Corinthian Capital Stone Coffee Table with Glass Top An elegant and eccentric coffee table created from an Italian Corinthian capital in stone, transformed into a sculptural...
Stone
Concrete Domestic Landscape Oval Coffee Table Ultramarine Cement Made in Italy
Located in Rome, Lazio
Fusto oval coffee table II is the new addition to the modular system collection in ultra high performing cement mortar, named Fusto. The sturdy, column-shaped leg supporting the oval top is marked by a grooved texture recalling ancient Roman and Greek architecture, making this coffee table unique. UHPC tabletop and base colored in the mixture and sandblasted. Each item is hand treated and is protected with water repellent products to reduce the absorption of oily substances and to minimise the making of stains. Fusto is the series that introduces the new design approach. As in classical architecture, Fusto is the column that holds tables, consoles, bookcases and pedestals. Volumes and proportions are integrated in a timeless geometry, enriched with facets that make the colour vibrate in a game of lights and shadows. Fusto is eternal architecture. Designer: Marialaura Rossiello...
Concrete
Coffee Table with Magazine Rack in Teak Wood, Italy 1960s
By Ico Parisi
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning coffee table with a side magazine rack made in teak wood. Produced in Italy in the 60s in the style of Ico Parisi. The wood grain of the top are simply amazing and the parti...
Brass
$1,864
H 16.15 in Dm 22.64 in
Modern Vintage Gold Metal Coffee Table Side Table with Smoked Glass 1970s Italy
Located in Vienna, AT
Modern vintage coffee table or side table in round shape with two swiveling glass plates from 1970s Italy. The function is very practical so it allows to enlarge the table if it is ...
Metal
$2,947
H 16.74 in W 47.64 in D 17.72 in
Midcentury Coffee Table with Magazine Rack in Teak Wood, Italy 1960s
By Ico Parisi
Located in Roma, IT
Gorgeous coffee table with a side magazine rack made in dark teak wood, it was produced in Italy in the 60s in the style of Ico Parisi. The wood tone of the top is simply amazing ...
Brass
Coffee Table Made In Teak With Drawer From 1960s
Located in Lejre, DK
The coffee table crafted from teak and featuring Danish design from the 1960s is a stylish and functional piece of furniture that epitomizes the mid-century modern aesthetic. Teak,...
Teak
$2,280
H 20.48 in W 53.15 in D 29.53 in
Mid Century Rectangular Marble Coffee Table, Made in Italy, 1970s
Located in Odense, DK
This beautiful rectangular coffee table, made in Italy during the 1970s, is an elegant example of mid-century design with a bold sculptural presence. The tabletop is crafted from war...
Marble, Iron
Architectural Rectangular Coffee Table in Steel and Glass
By E. Kold Christensen, Poul Kjærholm
Located in Dronten, NL
This table is the epitome of minimalistic yet monumental design. The asymmetrical shaped matte chrome steel frame holds a glass top. With this table the designer was able to get the ...
Steel
$1,383
H 15.75 in W 51.19 in D 17.72 in
Italian mid century wood and glass Acca coffee table Takahama Gavina, 1960s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian mid century modern wood and glass Acca coffee table by Kazuhide Takahama for Gavina, 1960s. Acca model coffee table with a rectangular wooden...
Glass, Wood
$2,165
H 14.18 in W 46.07 in D 30.32 in
Mid-Century Modern Italian Chrome Coffee Table with Smoked Glass Top, 1970s
Located in Prato, IT
Mid-Century Modern Italian sofa or coffee table with smoked glass top and chrome legs
Chrome
Coffee Table Made In Teak, Danish Design From 1960s
Located in Lejre, DK
This teak coffee table epitomizes the elegance and craftsmanship of Danish design from the 1960s. Crafted with precision and attention to detail, it boasts a timeless appeal that ad...
Teak
$1,323
H 17.72 in W 23.63 in D 23.63 in
Midcentury Brass, Chrome and Glass Italian Coffee Table After Romeo Rega, 1970
By Romeo Rega
Located in Roma, IT
Amazing midcentury coffee table in chromed metal, brass and smoked glass. This wonderful piece was designed in the style of Romeo Rega in Italy during the 1970s. The fusion of the three materials, chromed metal, brass and smoked glass, plus the mix with the straight and simple lines creates a blend of seductive elegance. This astonishing item will be perfect to smarten a modern living room or a midcentury studio. Measurements (cms): Depth 60 Width 60 Height 45 Born in 1904, Italian designer Romeo Rega is one of several 1970s-era designers that are associated with a combination of modernism and glamour in their furniture creations. Rega epitomizes this style, his brand is said to have been launched on December 31st, 1969, producing lighting, chairs, tables, and display cabinets identified by his double “R...
Brass, Chrome
$2,309Sale Price|20% Off
H 29.93 in Dm 20.87 in
Chineese Black Lacquer Coffee Table Encrusted with Hard Stone
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Pretty coffee table in black Chinese lacquer. The feet are slightly curved and adorned with golden arabesque patterns at the bottom and top. The entablature and the apron of the top ...
Lacquer
$1,076
H 19.69 in W 44.49 in D 29.14 in
Coffee Table Made In Teak By Severin Hansen Made In Haslev Furniture From 1960s
By Severin Hansen, Haslev Mobelsnedkeri
Located in Lejre, DK
The teak coffee table from the 1960s, designed by Severin Hansen and produced by Haslev Møbelfabrik, is an iconic piece of Danish furniture design. Made from teak wood, known for it...
Teak
Sold
H 21 in Dm 35.5 in
Rare Round Coffee Table w. Marquetry Inlay Depicting Saint George and the Dragon
Located in Lisse, NL
Antique and quality crafted, wooden coffee table. If you are looking for a beautifully made and highly decorative coffee table then this English specimen could be just the thing f...
Wood
Sold
H 17.5 in Dm 31.5 in
Stylish & Majestic Looking 1950s, Bronze and Green Round Top Onyx Coffee Table
Located in Lisse, NL
Wonderfully made and great looking table. This classical design coffee table will look perfect in a classical, in a Hollywood Regency, but also in some contemporary interiors. The ...
Onyx, Bronze