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.
Handmade Artistic Marble Mosaic Rug Dimension and Colors Customizable
By sicis
Located in London, GB
Making artistic Mosaic, design of unparalleled beauty, inventing ' tromp l'oeil' thanks to the endless colors of the glass Mosaic collections, all this allowed us to produce and divu...
Marble
Beautiful & Beveled Wall Mirror in Gilt Bronze Frame w. Eternal Flame Torchères
Located in Lisse, NL
Aesthetically beautiful and romantically meaningful, antique French mirror. The way in which an individual looks at anything in life can learn you much about them. Most people who...
Bronze
$1,400Sale Price|20% Off
Large Roman Style Bronze Figural Architectural Element
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Large Roman style bronze figural architectural element, depicting a goddess holding on her head an acanthus column with a bronze urn cascading with ...
Bronze
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
18th-Century Miniature of a Galleon and Harbor Scene, Giltwood Frame
Located in NANTES, FR
**18th-Century Miniature of a Galleon and Harbor Scene, Giltwood Frame – This fine-quality 18th-century miniature, in the manner of Quentin de La Tour, depicts a galleon entering a...
Wood, Paper
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
Constantin Hansen – Bacchus on a Lion Danish Golden Age Gouache
Located in Kastrup, DK
Constantin Hansen, 1804–1880 Danish Golden Age gouache painting: Bacchus on a Lion. Executed on paper, framed in a gilt wooden frame. Visible image: 31 × 33 cm. Unsigned. The paintin...
Wood, Paper
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
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
Pier Gustafson Fountain Pen Series for Boston Pen Fair Wall Art
Located in North Miami, FL
This amazing whimsical painting of a Roman Soldier with a Fountain Pen head. The artist, Pier Gustafson, thought it would be fun to replace Fountain Pen...
Canvas, Acrylic, Teak
Cristina Vergano Painting "The Best of All Possible Worlds" Oil on Wood, 1990
By Cristina Vergano
Located in New York, NY
Cristina Vergano painting "The Best of All Possible Worlds" oil on wood, 1990. Dimensions: Diam: 42" Cristina Vergano is known for her paintings that blend a classical style with...
Wood, Paint
$1,400Sale Price|37% Off
Micro Mosaic Tile Wall Plaque or Table Top of a Seated Woman in Wood Frame
Located in Plainview, NY
A palatial micro mosaic tile wall plaque of a seated woman holding a goblet in an antiquated wood frame. The wood frame is beautifully carved and the tile alignments of the tiles are...
Wood
Pair 18th Century French Neoclassical Hand-Carved Painted Wall Sconces, Corbels
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair 18th century French neoclassical hand-carved and painted wall sconces ~ Corbels were sculpted from solid oak and feature a timeless classical scroll festooned with acanthus flou...
Oak
Anton Pieck 'Roman' Pencil Drawing
Located in Tilburg, NL
Pencil drawing of a Roman man by Anton Pieck (1895-1987). When viewed up close the craftsmanship of Anton Pieck is obvious. He was a highly skilled arti...
Glass, Walnut, Paper
Ceramic glazed mask -Satyr_made in Italy
Located in Tarquinia, IT
Satyr, ceramic satyr, ceramic maskerone Glazed satyr maskerone -wall maskerone - hand molded on refractory ceramic, decorated , glazed dimensions: h 29 x 18 x 9 cm kg 1.4 original c...
Ceramic
Pier Gustafson Original Pen Series for Boston Pen Fair Wall Art
Located in North Miami, FL
This amazing whimsical painting of The Tomb represents the 3 Major Pen manufacturers. The artist, Pier Gustafson, thought it would be fun to replace fou...
Teak, Acrylic, Canvas
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
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
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
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
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
Carlo Uboldi, Marble Relief of Boys Playing with a Donkey, 19th Century
Located in London, by appointment only
A very fine mid 19th-century Italian carved Carrera statuary marble relief plaque of four boys playing with a donkey. Mounted on a bronze stand. ...
Marble
Rare and Large Classical Trompe-L'oeil Meissen Porcelain Plaque
Located in London, GB
Rare and large classical Trompe-l'oeil meissen porcelain plaque. German, 19th century. Measures: frame: height 60 cm, width 55 cm, depth 5 cm. plaque: height 45 cm, width 40 cm. ...
Porcelain, Giltwood
Pier Gustafson Original Art, Fountain Pen Series for Boston Pen Show
Located in North Miami, FL
This amazing whimsical painting of a discus thrower is a coin filler. The artist, Pier Gustafson, thought it would be fun to replace Fountain Pens in pl...
Canvas, Acrylic, Teak
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
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
Handmade Artistic Marble Mosaic Rug Dimension and Colors Customizable
By sicis
Located in London, GB
Making artistic Mosaic, design of unparalleled beauty, inventing ' tromp l'oeil' thanks to the endless colors of the glass Mosaic collections, all this allowed us to produce and divu...
Marble
$3,845Sale Price|30% Off
19th Century Italian Oil on Alabaster Painting - Pompeian Scene Tray
By Luigi Bazzani
Located in Firenze, IT
This remarkable 19th-century Italian creation combines the artistry of oil painting with the functionality of a decorative tray. The piece features a captivating Pompeian feast scene...
Alabaster, Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of Italian Capodimonte Painted Porcelain Plaques
By Capodimonte
Located in London, GB
Each Capodimonte porcelain plaque in this pair portrays a famous episode from Roman history: The Rape of the Sabines. The scene on each pl...
Lapis Lazuli, Ormolu, Bronze
"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".
18th Century Italian Painting of a Soldier, Fragement from a Larger Painting
Located in Buchanan, MI
Very handsome Italian portrait of a soldier, in ebonized frame with silver detail. Measurements include frame.
Canvas
Handmade Artistic Marble Mosaic Rug Dimension and Colors Customizable
By sicis
Located in London, GB
Making Artistic Mosaic, design of unparalleled beauty, inventing ' tromp l'oeil' thanks to the endless colors of the glass mosaic collections, all th...
Marble
A Pair of German K.P.M Porcelain Plaques Depicting "Aligira and Tirian"
Located in Tarzana, CA
A Pair of antique German KPM porcelain plaques depicting "Aligira and Tirian" Marked with 'K.P.M' Sceptre Mark with the letters 'SZ', with size marks 915-255, marked with Royal Vien...
Porcelain
$3,835Sale Price|35% Off
Antique English Oil/Canvas of a Young Girl Holding a Rose After William Hammer
By Hammer
Located in Tarzana, CA
Antique English Oil/Canvas of a Young Girl holding a Rose after William Hammer, within a gilt frame, ready to be hung.
Canvas