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.
Large Scale Original Antique Grand Tour Print- Alexander The Great, 1776
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful image of a bust of Alexander The Great Copper-plate engravings Published by Monaldini, Rome, 1776 Good quality wove paper Free shipping
Plaster
$64Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Large Scale Original Antique Architectural Prints, Circa 1790
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful pair of architectural prints. Copper-plate engravings by J.Newton after designs by Vetruvius Published C.1790 Unframed and not matted.
Paper
Étienne Dupérac Etchings of Ancient Roman Ruins, 17th Century - A Pair
Located in Savannah, GA
Étienne Dupérac (French, 1535-1604) A pair of etchings from I vestigi dell'antichita di Roma raccolti et ritratti in perspettiva depicting ruins of Ancient Rome, including the Temp...
Paper
Large Scale Original Antique Grand Tour Prints- Masks. Rome, 1776
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful images of classical Roman masks Copper-plate engravings Published by Monaldini, Rome, 1776 Good quality wove paper Free shipping
Plaster
$360Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Fine Engravings of City of Rome, Italy, Matted, Printed in 1816
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A pair of rare and quite beautiful pair of engravings of the city of Rome, printed in 1816. Both are printed from original copper plate. Custom handmade French mat in the 18th centu...
Paper
Large Scale Original Antique Grand Tour Prints-Relief Carvings. Rome, 1776
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful images of Relief Carvings Copper-plate engravings Published by Monaldini, Rome, 1776 Good quality wove paper Free shipping
Plaster
Original Antique Print of Roman Temple of Artemis, Jerash, Jordan, C.1840
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful image of The Temple of Artemis Fine steel engraving Published Circa 1840 Unframed. .
Paper
Aurora Engraving after Guido Reni Fresco by R.S. Morghen, c.1787
Located in Savannah, GA
Raffaello Sanzio Morghen (Italian, 1758-1833) Apollo in his Chariot preceded by Aurora, engraving after Guido Reni, c.1787. A rare original engraving with most examples being housed in museum collections. Apollo on his chariot bringing light to Aurora, surrounded by maidens or the Hours. Phosphorus in putto form personifying the morning star holds a torch lighting...
Paper
Original Antique Print of The Forum, Rome after David Roberts. Circa 1850
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful image of the Forum, Rome Fine steel engraving after David Roberts. With a decorative border. Published C.1850 Unframed. Free shipping
Paper
Original Antique Print of Petra after David Roberts. Circa 1850
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful image of Petra Fine steel engraving after David Roberts. With a decorative border. Published C.1850 Unframed. Free shipping
Paper
Original Antique Print of Petra after David Roberts. Circa 1850
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful image of Petra Fine steel engraving after David Roberts. With a decorative border. Published C.1850 Unframed. Free shipping
Paper
Original Antique Print of The Temple of Baalbek, Lebanon. Dated 1838
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful image of The Temple of Baalbek Fine steel engraving after W.H Bartlett Published by Fisher, Dated 1838 Unframed. Free shipping
Paper
Original Antique Print of Ancient Samaria After David Roberts. C.1850
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful image of Samaria. Modern day Sebastia, Nablus, West Bank Fine steel engraving by Finden after Roberts Published C.1850 Unframed. Free shipping
Paper
$3,596Sale Price / set|20% Off
19th Century Framed Italian Prints of Pisa by Engraver Antonio Verico
By Raffaello Morghen
Located in Savannah, GA
Three detailed colored prints by Antonio Verico. Born in 1775, he was a master of chalcography, the art of engraving on copper plates. He worked in Rome and Florence, carving on drawings by various authors, with a technique close to that of Raffaello Morghen...
Glass, Walnut, Paper
Pair of Architectural Ruins After Giovanni Battista Piranesi, Provenance
Located in Sofia, BG
Vintage Piranesi Architectural Ruins Prints : Framed Pair Provenance: Private Collection of a Noble Italian Family Beautiful pair of vintage prints after the celebrated Italian ...
Glass, Paper
Early 20C Medici Print of Putti Under a Vine
Located in Dallas, TX
PRESENTING A GLORIOUS & RARE Early 20C Medici Print of ‘Putti Under a Vine’. From the very early 20th Century, circa 1911. Framed and sold by Foster Bro...
Paper
Set of Three Framed Prints Depicting Greek Apulian Red-Figure Pottery
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Set of three framed prints depicting Greek glassical red-figure pottery. Left print: Marked: T.XV. - "In Miis. Vaticano - Depicting Apulian Red-Figure bell krater...
Wood, Paper
Gallery-Scale Framed Classical Horsemen Paneled Mural
Located in Dallas, TX
Make a dramatic statement with this stunning oversized artwork, featuring a striking black-on-ivory depiction of classical horsemen inspired by ancient friezes. Likely produced in th...
Textile, Wood
"Photograph of a Grecian Bust" by John Dugdale
By John Dugdale
Located in NYC, NY
"Photograph of a Grecian bust" is a cyanotype print by John Dugdale, edition 2/6. The print is 16" x 20" matted and framed to 24" x 27.5".
Large Victorian Framed Colour Print of the Daphnephoria
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Large Victorian framed colour print of The Daphnephoria. Large Victorian framed colour print of The Daphnephoria by Frederic Leighton (1830–1896), 1876, from Lady Lever Art Galler...
Paper
Original Antique Print of Men's Fashion, circa 1900
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'Der Moderne Kleidermacher XII'. German fashion print, published circa 1900. Four men showing various outfits (incl. long jackets/coats), all wearing hats.
Paper
$18,500 / set
H 65.25 in W 21.5 in D 1 in
Pair of 17th Century Chinese Huaniaohua Paintings with Gilded Frames
By Interi
Located in Columbia, SC
A pair of 17th century Chinese Huaniaohua paintings created in 1665 with the watercolor mixture Gouche. The pair showcases beautiful floral scenes in the centuries old tradition of...
Wood, Paint, Paper, Silk
Pair of Italian Neoclassical Allegorical Engravings
By Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino)
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Italian Neoclassical allegorical engravings. Pair of Italian neoclassical allegorical engravings after Raphael from "The Hours of the Nig...
Paper
$1,540
H 12.52 in W 14.26 in D 0.08 in
Rare 17th Century View of St. Augustine Florida, Hand-Colored, 1671
Located in Langweer, NL
Rare 17th Century View of St. Augustine Florida, Hand-Colored, 1671 Original hand-colored copper engraving depicting St. Augustine, Florida, published in Amsterdam in 1671. This imp...
Paper
Pair of 17th Century Engravings of Swedish Kings Karl X & Karl XI
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A pair of fine engravings of two Swedish monarchs by Samuel Blessendorf for Puffendorf’s History of Sweden, in antique birch frames, 1663 and 1696. Engravings of Swedish King Karl X Gustav (b. 1622 - d. 1660) dated 1663 and his successor, King Karl XI (b. 1655 - d. 1697) from 1696 by Samuel Blessendorf, a Prussian enamel painter and engraver, born in Berlin in 1670. He designed and engraved these portraits for Puffendorf’s History of Sweden by Freiherr Samuel von Pufendorf (1632-1694), Historiographer to King Karl X of Sweden. Freiherr Samuel von Pufendorf (b 1632 – d 1694) was a German jurist, political philosopher, economist and historian. He was born Samuel Pufendorf and ennobled in 1684 when he was made a baron by Charles XI of Sweden a few months before his death at age 62. Among his achievements are his commentaries and revisions of the natural law theories of Thomas Hobbes...
Paper
$330
H 13.67 in W 19.89 in D 0.02 in
Antique Print with Inside View of Magdalen Chapel, Winchester, Hampshire, 1790
Located in Langweer, NL
An antique line engraving by J. Basire after J. Schnebbelie, published in 1790. The Magdalen Chapel is located in the Cowgate in Edinburgh. The Chapel was built between 1541 and 1544 by Janet Rynd, widow of Michael MacQueen (died 1537), who had left money for this purpose. The building was to be the new chapel for the Incorporation of Hammermen and was to include accommodation for a chaplain and also an almshouse for seven Bedesmen (poor men) ‘who should continually pour forth prayers to Almighty God’.
Paper
$171
H 16.34 in W 11.42 in D 0.2 in
Pl. 39 Antique Print of Greek Motifs from Architecture by Racinet, circa 1890
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'Greek-Byzantine - Greco-Byzantin - Griechisch-Byzantinisch'. Chromolithograph of architecture and manuscripts ornaments. This print originates from 'l'Ornement ...
Paper
Antique Bible Print The great Flood by J. Luyken, 1743
Located in Langweer, NL
This print originates from ‘Biblia Sacra, dat is, de H. Schriftuer van het Oude, en het Nieuwe Testament, naer de laetste Roomsche keure der gemeine Latijnsche overzettinge, in neder...
Paper
$564
H 13.19 in W 15.16 in D 0.2 in
Original Hand-coloured Antique Print of Geneva, Switzerland, circa 1702
Located in Langweer, NL
Panoramic view of Geneva, Switzerland. Engraved and published in Amsterdam by Pieter Schenk (1660 - 1718/1719). Titles in Dutch, to left, and Latin. This print originates from Schenk...
Paper
$1,369
H 27.37 in W 29.93 in D 1.58 in
LAUWERS 17th Etching Engraving Jupiter & Mercury & Zeus Hermes JORDAENS - Framed
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Large and beautiful etching, engraving by Nicolaes Lauwers after Jacob Jordaens. Flanders, 17th century. Representing Zeus and Hermes (Jupiter and Mercury) in the house of Philemon a...
Paper
$285
H 16.54 in W 20.28 in D 0.02 in
Antique Print Showing the Punishment of a Child Made After Aubry, circa 1790
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'Correction Maternele Dediée à Madame la Duchesse de Brancas'. Antique engraving showing the punishment of a child. Behin the child, a spinning wheel can be seen...
Paper
Antique Bird Print of Geese by Bonnaterre, 1790
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'Histoire Naturelle, Ornithologie'. Hand colored engraving of various geese. This print originates from 'Tableau encyclopédique et méthodique des trois règnes de...
Paper
17th Century Lithograph Framed Map of Spain
Located in Atlanta, GA
In giltwood frame, dated 1652.
Ink, Paper
Antique Bird Print of Various Geese by Bonnaterre, '1790'
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'Histoire Naturelle, Ornithologie'. Copper engraving of various geese. This print originates from 'Tableau encyclopédique et méthodique des trois règnes de la na...
Paper
Engraving - View of the city of Lisbon
Located in Porto, PT
Engraving - View of the city of Lisbon. Engraving on paper; framed. Dimensions: 20x48 cm.
Paper
Sold
H 55 in W 42 in D 0.25 in
Judith Lipnik Perlow Column Series (Large IV) 2003 Signed Serigraph on Paper
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A color serigraph depicting a classical column rendered in orange tones against a layered blue, red and gold ground with schematic, blueprint-like line work. The composition incorpor...
Paper
Sold
H 29 in W 22 in D 0.25 in
Judith Lipnik Perlow Column Series XIII 2003 Signed Serigraph in Colors on Paper
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A color serigraph depicting a classical column rendered in gold tones against a layered blue and red ground with schematic, blueprint-like line work. The composition incorporates hal...
Paper
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H 29 in W 22 in D 0.25 in
Judith Lipnik Perlow Column Series XI 2003 Signed Serigraph in Colors on Paper
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A color serigraph depicting a classical column rendered in turquoise tones against a layered blue and red ground with schematic, blueprint-like line work. The composition incorporate...
Paper
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H 29 in W 22 in D 0.25 in
Judith Lipnik Perlow Column Series XII 2003 Signed Serigraph in Colors on Paper
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A color serigraph depicting a classical column rendered in gold tones against a layered blue ground with schematic, blueprint-like line work. The composition incorporates halftone pa...
Paper
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H 29 in W 22 in D 0.25 in
Judith Lipnik Perlow Column Series X 2003 Signed Serigraph in Colors on Paper
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A color serigraph depicting a classical column rendered in black tones against a layered blue and red ground with schematic, blueprint-like line work. The composition incorporates ha...
Paper
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H 29 in W 22 in D 0.25 in
Judith Lipnik Perlow Column Series IX 2003 Signed Serigraph in Colors on Paper
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A color serigraph depicting a classical column rendered in turquoise tones against a layered blue and red ground with schematic, blueprint-like line work. The composition incorporate...
Paper
Sold
H 29 in W 22 in D 0.25 in
Judith Lipnik Perlow Column Series VIII 2003 Signed Serigraph in Colors on Paper
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A color serigraph depicting a classical column rendered in red and gold tones against a layered blue and green ground with schematic, blueprint-like line work. The composition incorp...
Paper
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H 29 in W 22 in D 0.25 in
Judith Lipnik Perlow Column Series VII 2003 Signed Serigraph in Colors on Paper
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A color serigraph depicting a classical column rendered in red and gold tones against a layered blue and green ground with schematic, blueprint-like line work. The composition incorp...
Paper
Sold
H 55 in W 42 in D 0.25 in
Judith Lipnik Perlow Column Series (Large II) 2003 Signed Serigraph on Paper
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A color serigraph depicting a classical column rendered in yellow tones against a layered blue and gold ground with schematic, blueprint-like line work. The composition incorporates ...
Paper
Sold
H 6.75 in W 9.5 in D 0.07 in L 6.75 in
Original Antique Print of The Temple of Baalbek, Lebanon. C.1850
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful image of The Temple of Baalbek Fine steel engraving after W.H Bartlett Published by Jackson C.1850 Unframed. Free shipping
Paper
Sold
H 28.55 in W 20.87 in D 1.19 in L 28.55 in
four French prints, "Winged Cupids" Engraver Castel, publisher Jean - Paris
Located in Vicenza, IT
Elegant group of four stipple engravings (stipple) depicting winged cherubs in various sentimental and playful poses, suspended in the clouds. Each print bears a title in French that...
Paper
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H 17.25 in W 11 in D 0.07 in
Large Scale Original Antique Grand Tour Print- Grotesque Masks. Rome, 1776
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful image of classical Roman masks Copper-plate engravings Published by Monaldini, Rome, 1776 Good quality wove paper Free shipping
Plaster
Large Scale Original Antique Grand Tour Prints- Statues. Rome, 1776
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful images of classical Roman statues-Minerva and Mercury Copper-plate engravings Published by Monaldini, Rome, 1776 Good quality wove paper Free shipping
Plaster
Sold
H 8.25 in W 10.75 in D 0.07 in
Original Antique Print of The Temple of Baalbek, Lebanon. Dated 1838
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful image of The Temple of Baalbek Fine steel engraving after W.H Bartlett Published by Fisher. Dated 1838 Unframed. Free shipping
Paper
Original Antique Print of the Temple of Baalbek, Lebanon. Dated 1834
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful image of The Temple of Baalbek. Fine steel engraving after J.W Callcott Published by Murray, Dated 1834 Unframed.
Paper