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.
Very Large Mechanical Tapestry Decorated with Undergrowth and Castles
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Very large mechanical tapestry decorated with undergrowth and castles, made in France circa 1930. very beautiful colors, very fresh. 2 Tapestry a...
Cotton
Bacchus and Ariadne, early 18th Century mythological tapestry
Located in London, GB
Bacchus and Ariadne, early 18th Century mythological tapestry Flemish, early 18th Century Width 428cm, depth 276cm, height 2cm The tapestry is rec...
Tapestry
$12,950Sale Price|30% Off
Ancient Coptic Textile with Classical Figures
Located in Spring Valley, NY
Finely woven of wool and linen, this large, ancient, museum level Coptic textile depicts figures derived from classical antiquity, some playing musical ...
Wool, Linen
$307Sale Price|20% Off
Tapestry with frame early 20th century
Located in Premariacco, IT
Embroidered tapestry with frame and double back iron for hanging on the wall. Early 20th century period.
Fabric, Wood
$9,600 / set
H 118.9 in W 54.34 in D 0.4 in
19th century rare pair of large Aubusson Verdure tapestries with heron and duck
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
This pair of rare 19th century large verdure tapestries, woven in the celebrated Aubusson workshops, illustrates the enduring appeal of nature-inspired decoration in French interiors...
Wool, Silk
$35,000
H 107 in W 97 in D 1 in
Antique 18th Century French Aubusson Verdure Landscape Tapestry with Birds
Located in New York, NY
French, 18th century Verdure Aubusson tapestry handwoven in wool with silk highlights set within a complete floral border. Two birds wade a...
Wool, Silk, Tapestry
$25,995Sale Price|42% Off
H 132 in W 96 in D 0.05 in
17th Century French Aubusson Mythological Tapestry
Located in New York, NY
A French Aubusson mythological tapestry from the 17th century, depicting the Spartan king, Menelaus, seated at left, sending his brother...
Wool
$54,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 90 in W 146 in D 0.05 in
Antique 18th Century Franco-Flemish Mythological Tapestry, with Diana & Callisto
Located in New York, NY
An antique Franco-Flemish mythological tapestry from the 18th century, featuring the goddess of the hunt, Diana with her attendant, Callisto. In this sultry scene, Diana reposes on a...
Wool, Silk
$38,450Sale Price|48% Off
H 128 in W 130 in D 0.25 in
Franco-Flemish 18th Century Figural Tapestry Allegorical to "Triumph & Love"
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine baroque Franco-Flemish 18th century figural tapestry allegorical to triumph and love, depicting three maidens within a verdure backgro...
Wool
$5,625
H 15 in W 13 in D 1 in
Pre-Columbian Chancay Coca Leaf Bag with Shamans and Zoomorphic Figures, Peru
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
Brown Chancay coca bag with shamans and zoomorphic figures depicted in the centre on a in various colors on a red background. This piece is accompanied by ...
Textile
Pre-Columbian Inca Mantle with 16 Figures, Peru, 1476-1534 AD
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
Inca Mantle with 16 figures in cubist form with multi-color fringes. This pieces with a Certificat de Bien Culturel from France. For the Incas finely worked and highly decorativ...
Textile
$5,410
H 66.54 in W 42.13 in D 0.28 in
Very Beautiful Vintage Aubusson Tapestry with Herve Lelong design
By Hervé Lelong
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Introducing a Stunning Mid Century Aubusson Tapestry from Tunisia! We're delighted to present this exquisite Aubusson tapestry, meticulously crafted in Tunisia. This masterpiece fea...
Wool, Cotton
$2,580
H 57.25 in W 75.5 in D 1 in
French Château Landscape Jacquard Woven Tapestry with Carriage & Courtly Scene
Located in Miami, FL
French Château Landscape Jacquard Woven Tapestry with Carriage & Courtly Scene, 75.5” Wide An elegant and richly detailed French château scene tapestry, Jacquard woven in the tr...
Wool, Cotton
Moorish Tapestry with a 19th Century Orientalist Arabian Scene
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Large Aubusson style european made tapestry with an orientalist 19th century scene depicting an Arabian sultan and other figures and Middle Eastern Moorish architecture in the background. Probably a scene in North Africa, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia or Egypt with a sultan well dress sitting and an old man and women around him. Great textile to use as a wall tapestry decoration. Unframed antique Belgian or French machine made tapestry depicting a Moorish Islamic scene, typical of late 18th century and early 19th century after the Orientalist scenes. This is an authentic example of French or Belgian made tapestries...
Fabric
17th Century Brussels Mythological Tapestry
Located in New York, NY
A Brussels mythological tapestry from the first half of the 17th century, woven by Peter van den Berghen, depicting an interior scene from the st...
Wool
Wall Tapestry, Hunting Scene, 20th Century
Located in PARIS, FR
Wall tapestry – Hunting scene – 18th century style – 187 x 126 cm Magnificent wall tapestry depicting a hunting scene in a wooded and hilly landscape, with riders, dogs and elegant ...
Tapestry
Large Tapestry, circa 1930
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Large tapestry circa 1930 Scenery of an animated undergrowth.
Cotton
Mid-18th Century French Handwoven Aubusson Tapestry in Carved Frame
By Royal Manufacture of Aubusson
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate an entry wall or a staircase with this elegant antique tapestry panel. Handwoven in the Royal Manufacture of Aubusson, France, circa 17...
Wood, Tapestry
Sold
H 86 in W 90.5 in D 0.5 in
Mid-Century Flemish Handwoven Biblical Tapestry with Esther and Ahasuerus
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a wall or a staircase with this colorful large antique biblical tapestry. Handwoven in Belgium, circa 1950, the colorful wall piec...
Tapestry, Canvas
1950s Threefold Toile Fabric French Screen with Studded Detail
Located in London, England
This circa 1940s/1950s French threefold screen is highly decorative versatile piece with two shorter panels sitting aside a wider fixed one. The screen has fabric on both sides with...
Cotton
Mid-18th Century French Handwoven Mythological Aubusson Tapestry
By Royal Manufacture of Aubusson
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a wall or a staircase with this antique tapestry fragment with Classical Roman scene. Handwoven in the Royal Manufacture of Aubusson, France, circa 1740, the colorful wall p...
Tapestry
17th Century Belgian Tapestry
Located in New Orleans, LA
This extraordinary Belgian tapestry bears the hallmarks of superior workmanship that are synonymous with the tapestries of Antwerp. The scene it dep...
Fabric, Thread
Large 17th Century Flanders Tapestry Depicting a Roman Scene
Located in Dallas, TX
The details on this tapestry are absolutely superb. It was woven in Flanders in the 1600s. The village in the background for instance, is so finely woven you can see the architectura...
Wool, Silk
Antique Handwoven Authentic Tapestry, 19th Century
Located in Sofia, BG
Beautiful authentic tapestry See the photos on the back Romantic scene.
Tapestry
Sold
H 66.5 in W 63.5 in D 0.25 in
18th Century French Aubusson Mythological and Scenic Tapestry Composition
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a wall or a staircase with this antique tapestry fragment. Almost square and hand woven in Aubusson, France, circa 1740, the colorful wall piece features a mythological scen...
Tapestry
17th Century Wool Tapestry from Flanders
Located in Dallas, TX
This silk and wool tapestry from Flanders was woven during the period of time when Flanders was known for weaving some of the finest tapestries. Tapestries were originally designed to protect from the damp and cold conditions of medieval castle walls. As tapestry weaving developed in Bruges and Brussels, the tapestries became very large, complex, and generally displayed ones power or wealth. The first thing you notice about the tapestry seen below, is its large personages and blue and beige colors. It depicts a meeting of different warriors outside of their tented area. The head person is seated in an ornate chair...
Wool
Large 17th Century Flanders Tapestry Depicting a Roman Scene
Located in Dallas, TX
The details on this tapestry are absolutely superb. It was woven in Flanders in the 1600s. The village in the background for instance, is so finely woven you can see the architectura...
Silk, Wool
Rare Antique Italian Tapestry Depicting Roman Emperor Julius Caesar
Located in New York, NY
Here is a beautiful antique tapestry: a late nineteenth century Italian piece, composed with the standards of classical beauty as a guiding light. Harkening back to the preferred aes...
Wool