Classical Roman Furniture
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.
2010s Italian Classical Roman Furniture
Concrete
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Furniture
Alabaster
1970s Italian Vintage Classical Roman Furniture
Brass
2010s Italian Classical Roman Furniture
Concrete
2010s Italian Classical Roman Furniture
Concrete
20th Century American Classical Roman Furniture
Wood
1920s Japanese Vintage Classical Roman Furniture
Brass, Enamel
2010s Italian Classical Roman Furniture
Concrete
2010s Italian Classical Roman Furniture
Concrete
Early 20th Century Classical Roman Furniture
Glass, Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Classical Roman Furniture
Composition
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Furniture
Bronze
Late 19th Century French Antique Classical Roman Furniture
Metal, Bronze
2010s Italian Classical Roman Furniture
Concrete
Mid-20th Century Classical Roman Furniture
Brass, Copper
15th Century and Earlier French Antique Classical Roman Furniture
Stone
Early 20th Century European Classical Roman Furniture
Terracotta
1860s Italian Antique Classical Roman Furniture
Siena Marble, Carrara Marble, Marble, Bronze
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Furniture
Terracotta
20th Century Spanish Classical Roman Furniture
Plaster
1960s Italian Vintage Classical Roman Furniture
Terracotta
18th Century French Antique Classical Roman Furniture
Elm
20th Century American Classical Roman Furniture
19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Furniture
Stone, Sandstone
Late 20th Century Italian Classical Roman Furniture
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Classical Roman Furniture
Statuary Marble
Early 20th Century Italian Classical Roman Furniture
Gesso, Softwood
1790s English Antique Classical Roman Furniture
Paper
1970s Italian Vintage Classical Roman Furniture
Marble
1790s English Antique Classical Roman Furniture
Paper
Early 20th Century French Classical Roman Furniture
Brass
19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Furniture
Marble
18th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Furniture
Marble
Early 1900s German Antique Classical Roman Furniture
Marble, Bronze
19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Furniture
Agate, Belgian Black Marble
Late 20th Century Italian Classical Roman Furniture
Terracotta
Mid-20th Century Italian Classical Roman Furniture
Gold
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Classical Roman Furniture
Bronze
1890s French Antique Classical Roman Furniture
Terracotta
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Furniture
Carrara Marble, Statuary Marble, Steel
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Furniture
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century Italian Classical Roman Furniture
Marble, Bronze
2010s Italian Classical Roman Furniture
Concrete
19th Century French Antique Classical Roman Furniture
Carrara Marble
20th Century Italian Classical Roman Furniture
Bronze
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Furniture
Marble, Bronze
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Furniture
Fruitwood
Early 2000s Italian Classical Roman Furniture
Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Art Glass
1970s Italian Vintage Classical Roman Furniture
Paper
15th Century and Earlier European Antique Classical Roman Furniture
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Classical Roman Furniture
Ceramic, Majolica
15th Century and Earlier North African Antique Classical Roman Furniture
Clay
Early 20th Century Italian Classical Roman Furniture
Bronze, Wrought Iron
1870s German Antique Classical Roman Furniture
Porcelain
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Classical Roman Furniture
Sterling Silver
19th Century Italian Antique Classical Roman Furniture
Alabaster, Bronze, Ormolu
Mid-20th Century American Classical Roman Furniture
Sterling Silver
19th Century Antique Classical Roman Furniture
Paper