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.
Classical Marble Carved Stone Sink Basin
Located in Cranbrook, Kent
Classical Italian sink basin cut from one single block of white marble with serpentine shaped front and gadrooned carving, these Greek/Roman designs quite happily suit either old or ...
Carrara Marble
Period Marble Carved Stone Sink Basin
Located in Cranbrook, Kent
Classical Italian sink basin cut from one single block of white marble with serpentine shaped front and gadrooned carving, these Greek/Roman designs quite happily suit either old or ...
Limestone
$3,102 / item
Marble Scalloped Sink Basin
Located in Cranbrook, Kent
Classical Italian scalloped sink basin cut from one single block of Carrara marble. Optional backsplash Custom sizes available
Marble
$11,296Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Old Italian Stone Garden Vases. Florence, Late of 18th Century
Located in Budapest, HU
Extraordinary pair of vases dating back to the late 1700s and coming from a villa on the hills of Fiesole (Florence).
Cement
Pair of Tall Classical Styled Fluted Metal Garden Urns on Stands
Located in Nashville, TN
Metal with fired finish (in distress). Tall (just shy of 5 feet) and of Classical Design with ribbed fluting and on attached square bases. The bases decorated with laurels on all fou...
Metal
$11,296Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair Garden Vases in Vicenza Stone, 1960
Located in Budapest, HU
Beautiful pair garden vases in original Vicenza stone.
Stone
$1,500 / set
Pair of Antique Carved Stone Capitals and Bases
Located in Sheffield, MA
The pair of antique stone capitals come with separate semi-circular bases. These are to be attache to a wall like pilasters. Can be used for planter bases, small side table or as gar...
Stone
A Weathered Cast Stone Classical Corinthian Column Pedestal
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A Weathered Cast Stone Classical Corinthian Column Pedestal A Superb Fluted Classical Column Pedestal, the pedestal is made in Cast Stone and has a weathered surface The Column is 3...
Cast Stone
Pair of Cast Plaster Recumbent Entrance Way Garden Lions
Located in New York, NY
Attractive pair of garden statuary, entrance way lions, of heavy cast material (plaster). Both are in very good, original condition, showing only the expe...
Plaster
Large Weathered Iron Garden Statue of Mercury 'Hermes' the Winged Messenger
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Large weathered iron garden statue of mercury (Hermes) the winged messenger The statue is very heavy it is almost 4ft tall and made in Iron, it ...
Iron
$8,467Sale Price|20% Off
Puer Mingens, Charming Garden Sculpture in Vicenza Stone, 1960
Located in Budapest, HU
Beautiful garden sculpture in original Vicenza stone carved by one of the most appreciated artists of the genre.
Stone
1950s French Classic Metal Wall Candle Holder with Leaf Design
Located in Den Haag, NL
Classic metal wall candleholder, fits three candles. Decorated with metal Leafs . 1950s, France.
Metal
$941Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Classical Roman Cast Iron Urn Planters, Brushed Finish, Italy
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Pair of elegant French CAST IRON urn planters or pots, suitable for garden, flower beds, patio or inside on a long table or buffet. Bleached, because I didn't like the usual dark on...
Ironstone
$2,360Sale Price|32% Off
H 35 in Dm 18 in
18th Century English Staddle Stone 'Mushroom' Garden Ornament
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
18th Century English Staddle Stone ‘Mushroom’ Garden Ornament Add a piece of history to your garden with this gorgeous 18th-century English Staddle Stone, often referred to as a ‘Mu...
Stone
English Garden Stone Square Bird Bath
Located in Austin, TX
A fine English garden bird bath of composition stone, featuring a square top with round recessed bath area in the center, set upon a four-sided tapering pedestal with square plinth b...
Stone, Cast Stone
Pair of Early 20th Century French Garden Statues
Located in Houston, TX
A lovely pair of 20th century concrete garden figures from France. He is perched next to an oak stump with foliage and acorns in hand. She carries two floral...
Concrete
Carved Onyx Rock Sink Basin with Live Edge
Located in Atlanta, GA
A single natural onyx sink basin with original live edge. This carved vessel sink, created from a rough onyx rock, has a carved and then polished interior basin, making for easy clea...
Stone, Onyx
Onyx Rock Sink Bathroom Basin with Live Edge
Located in Atlanta, GA
A single natural onyx sink basin with original live edge. This carved vessel sink, created from a rough onyx rock, has a carved and then polished interior basin, making for easy clea...
Onyx
Pair of Octagonal Reconstituted Stone Urns
Located in London, GB
A pair of octagonal mid-20th century reconstituted stone urns in the neoclassical style with carved foliate detail raised on small socles, Eng...
Stone
$3,883
H 27.7 in Dm 21.7 in
Large 18th or 19th Century Antique Iron Anduze Style Garden Vase / Planter / Urn
Located in Lisse, NL
Very rare and highly decorative, architectural cast iron vase. If you are a private collector or an interior designer with an eye for the rare and wonderful, then this very rare and timeless garden vase could be perfect for your home or for one of your projects. You may have seen French terracotta Anduze vases before, but we are pretty certain that you have never seen one made of cast iron. This large and possibly one of a kind specimen of cast iron has a wonderfully calm design and it is hand painted in a beigy-gray color which makes it even more timeless. Handcrafted using cast iron...
Iron
Pair of White Granite Urns on Faux Marble Pedestals
Located in Hudson, NY
A pair of carved white granite classical urns with floral decoration on the bodies. Custom-made marbleized wood pedestals. Measure: urns are 26.5 tall...
Granite
Outdoor Spanish 19th C. Grey Stone Sink w/Shallow Basin
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Spanish carved-stone sink, with shallow basin and off-set drain hole, from the 19th century. This antique hand-carved grey stone sink from Spain has clean/simple lines, and an over...
Stone
$11,120Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 23 in W 11.5 in D 11.5 in
Pair Hand Carved Antique Stone Pyramid Garden Post Gate Entrance Finials Pyramid
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Pair Hand Carved Antique Stone Pyramid Garden Post Gate Entrance Finials Pyramid . Great patina with Fantastic simple geometric lines . Architectural elements garden ornament to complement your home . Use as finials on top of your house gates pillars...
Stone
English Garden Stone Urn on Plinth in the Neo-Classical Style
Located in Austin, TX
A handsome English circular garden stone urn (or planter pot) on a raised column plinth. The round urn featuring a lattice design around the top circumference and a fluted bowl. Resting on a round plinth featuring a Neo-Classical relief...
Stone, Cast Stone, Concrete
$2,588
H 20.48 in W 33.47 in D 7.88 in
19th Century Antique Hand Carved White Marble Double Basin Kitchen Sink
Located in Marbella, ES
19th century antique hand carved white marble double basin kitchen sink.
Marble
Pair of Vintage Stone Cast Garden Flame Urns
Located in Essex, MA
These garden urns are highly decorative and classical in style. They are made of stone (or cast stone) and feature intricate details: • Shape: The urns are lidded with a tall,...
Cement
Sold
H 58.25 in W 16.38 in D 16.38 in
English Garden Stone Figure of a Child Putti Playing Flute on a Plinth Base
Located in Austin, TX
A fine English garden statue or ornamental figure of composition stone, featuring a cherub or child putti in the Classical style, posed in a sitting position, playing a flute, on a b...
Cast Stone
19th Century Copper Armillary Sphere on a Stone Pedestal
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
19th Century Copper Armillary Sphere on a Stone Pedestal 19th century copper armillary sphere set on a weathered 14” fluted stone pedestal which has acquired excellent patina from y...
Cast Stone
Classical Marble Carved Stone Sink Basin
Located in Cranbrook, Kent
Classical Italian sink basin cut from one single block of white marble with serpentine shaped front and gadrooned carving, these Greek/Roman designs quite happily suit either old or ...
Carrara Marble
Classical Marble Carved Stone Sink Basin
Located in Cranbrook, Kent
Classical Italian sink basin cut from one single block of white marble with serpentine shaped front and gadrooned carving, these Greek/Roman designs quite happily suit either old or ...
Carrara Marble
Antique Large Garden Statue Female Sculpture with Nice Patina
Located in Buxton, GB
Antique female Statue, sourced from Chateau in South France. Great Decorative Piece with Nice Patina. 2 repairs to one arm in the weathered stone composite. Dimensions 125cm High ...
Concrete
English Garden Stone Urn or Planter Pot on Square Plinth Base
Located in Austin, TX
A fine English garden urn (or planter pot) on plinth of composition stone, featuring a round urn with Classically proportioned body on raised square base, set upon a square plinth wi...
Cast Stone
Turkish Terracotta Olive Jar or Garden Urn
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A large turkish terracotta olive pot with great patina. This beautiful piece can be used as a garden ornament or planter, for indoor and outdoor use.
Terracotta
Turkish Terracotta Olive Jar or Garden Urn
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A large turkish terracotta olive pot with great patina. This beautiful piece can be used as a garden ornament or planter, for indoor and outdoor use.
Terracotta
Very Large Egyptian Imperial Red Porphyry, Roman Fragment
Located in Bruxelles, BE
Very large partially carved and polished Imperial red porphyry Roman fragment Measures: 72 x 42 x 21,5 cm.
Porphyry
Italian Modern Alabaster Column Finely Worked, 1980-2000s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Alabaster column finely worked, 1980-2000s. Elegant and classic column in alabaster with a round base in cream yellow color. The top is square with cut corners. The c...
Alabaster
Antique Cast Lead Garden Angel Figure
Located in Bridgeport, CT
The Winged Angel sits curled up on a sphere. He raises one hand to his ear as if to listen to a seashell. Originally painted in brown and off white. Measures: Height 20 1/2', Width...
Lead