There is rare surviving furniture from ancient Greece, yet this classical style has informed design for centuries. Interiors of houses in antiquity were minimal, with much of a room’s color coming from frescoes on the walls and mosaics on the floors. Classical Greek furniture was sparing but finely crafted and influenced by Egyptian furniture design through Mediterranean trade.
Furnishings of the period were usually made from local wood like cypress, cedar, oak and willow from ancient Greece’s plentiful forests, although some pieces were carved from marble, such as a 300–200 B.C. throne with lion legs and a curved back now at the Getty Villa. Comfort and clean lines characterized designs during the Classical era, the symmetry and thoughtful proportions reflecting the architecture of Greek temples.
Some pieces of ancient Greek furniture were simple, rectangular platforms like the klinē, a multipurpose ancestor of today’s couches or daybeds that held cushions stuffed with wool, dry grass or down. These structures were used for both sleeping and dining, which wealthy Greeks did while reclining. At night, oil lamps illuminated rooms that frequently surrounded a garden courtyard.
Most of what scholars have learned about Greek furniture design owes to its representations in art like vases and stelae. The portable diphros stool, with its backless design and four turned legs, was one of the more common types of seating in daily Greek life — it appears as such for the gods on the Parthenon frieze. Stools without backs have been found in early Roman tombs, while benches were also common Greek seating furniture created for use in theaters. In houses of the Hellenistic period, benches seemingly functioned as tables, too.
Some designs evolved through adaptations by the Romans, including the klismos chair. After prominent archaeological excavations at Pompeii and Herculaneum, the klismos chair — with its four saber legs and the elegant curves that define its back — was a source of inspiration for aesthetics in eras ranging from 18th-century neoclassicism to 20th-century Art Deco.
Find a collection of Classical Greek decorative objects, wall decorations and building and garden elements on 1stDibs.
Nickel-Plated Iron Pedestal Base--Base Only
Located in Sheffield, MA
Classical urn shape pedestal base in nickel plated finish. Can be used indoor or outdoor as dining table or breakfast table with a top of your choice. Listing does not include stone...
Iron
$9,837 / item
Modern Classical Extension Dining Table, Mahogany
Located in Westwood, NJ
Modern Classical extension dining table with a mocha finish mahogany veneer on brass castors with one self-storing extensions leaf. One self-storing extension leaf Dimensions: Open -...
Wood
$10,497 / item
Modern Classical Extension Dining Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
Modern classical extension dining table with a swirl mahogany veneer on brass castors with one self-storing extensions leaf. Open dimensions: 88" W x 42" D x 30" H Closed: 64" W x ...
Wood
Scrolled Wrought Iron Breakfast or Patio Garden Table
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Elegant scrolled wrought iron breakfast table or patio garden table featuring four large S scrolls. Conjoined on top and bottom with scrolls on to...
Iron
Neoclassical Style Iron Curule Leg Garden Dining Table
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Mid-Century Modern painted iron patio and garden table featuring neoclassical style Curule legs. The top of the rectangular garden table has ...
Wrought Iron
$2,560Sale Price|20% Off
H 29 in W 53 in D 53 in
French Bistro Style Patinated Iron Brass Garden Dining Table
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Distinctive French iron and brass dining table suitable for patio or garden. The round table features a pastry table style iron base crafted from four gracefully curved legs ending w...
Brass, Iron
Mid century Rosewood Danish Modern Extension Dining Table 2 Leaves
By Arne Vodder, H. Sigh & Søns Møbelfabrik AS
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid century Rosewood Rectangle Danish Modern extension dining table with (2) nesting pull out leaves. This table has Solid rosewood round tapered legs. This table is in good vintage ...
Birch, Rosewood
$2,560Sale Price|20% Off
H 30 in W 65 in D 33 in
Scandinavian Modern Extension dining table by Cees Braakman for Pastoe
By Pastoe, Cees Braakman
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An extending dining table designed by Cees Braakman for Pastoe featuring a white Lacquer sliding top mechanism that reveals an integrated leaf for extension on one side of table. Sol...
Lacquer, Hardwood
$2,800Sale Price|20% Off
H 29 in W 65 in D 37 in
Mid century Teak Danish Modern Extension Dining Table 2 Leaves
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid century Teak Rectangle Danish Modern extension dining table with (2) nesting pull out leaves. This table has Solid teak apron and tapered legs. This table is in beautiful conditi...
Birch, Teak
Garden Patio Glass Top Metal Base Cafe Dining Table
Located in New York, NY
Elegant and charming diminutive cafe dining table. This example has a cast aluminum base with foliate trim and cabriole legs, the top is the original textured plate...
Aluminum
$16,371 / item
H 29.53 in W 118.12 in D 51.19 in
Modern Outdoor Pedestal Dining Table by Albino Miranda, Customizable
Located in New York, NY
Handcrafted of fiber reinforced resin, a forceful material for extreme weather conditions. Lacquered in matte white with protective UV coat. Dimensions (cm): 300 x 130 x 75 Dimensio...
Resin, Lacquer, Fiberglass
Wought Iron Garden Patio Poolside Dining Center Table
By Leinfelder, Salterini
Located in New York, NY
Superb wrought iron table base with stylized center, on heavy solid iron disk foot base. The center post is reminiscent of a classical column, it supports a round top ( 30 in. dia. )...
Wrought Iron
$4,995
H 28.25 in W 68.99 in D 49.22 in
Skovby Danish Modern Sculpted Rosewood Extension Dining Table, Newly Refinished
Located in South Bend, IN
A sleek and stylish mid-century Danish Modern sculpted rosewood extension dining table By Skovby Møbelfabrik Denmark, Circa 1970s Measures: 49.25"W x 49.25"D x 28.25"H. Extends up...
Rosewood
Mod Wicker Dinette Cafe Dining Table with Pedestal Base
Located in New York, NY
Cool modern design pedestal dining table in woven wicker. Modernist wicker pieces are not often seen or available on the market. Suitable for use as a dining table, or center or game...
Wicker
$4,500
H 29 in W 94.5 in D 40 in
Heywood Wakefield Mid-Century Modern Extension Dining Table, Newly Refinished
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous and very versatile Mid-Century Modern solid maple "wishbone" drop-leaf extension dining table By Heywood Wakefield USA, 1950s Measures: 94.5"W x 40"D x 29"H. (fully ext...
Maple
Sold
H 29.5 in W 48 in D 48 in
Antique Quervelle School Classical Flame Mahogany Sunburst Dining Table, c1840
By Anthony Quervelle
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique dining table in the manner of Quervelle offers flame mahogany construction with round top having sunburst design over deep skirt raised on faceted urn form column with scr...
Mahogany
Monumental Glass Top Dining Table on Cast Stone Corinthian Pedestals
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Expansive dining table suitable for indoor or outdoor use. This grand table consists of Corinthian pedestals which come in two parts and are stacke...
Cast Stone
Classical Mahogany Corinthian Column Glass Top Dining Table, 20th Century
Located in Big Flats, NY
Classical glass top dining table features carved Corinthian column base, 20th century Measures: 32" height x 47" diameter overall, 13.5" d...
Glass, Mahogany
Sold
H 28.5 in W 84.5 in D 36.63 in
French Neoclassical Antique Painted Iron Patio Dining Table, Early 20th Century
Located in Shippensburg, PA
The extremely worn crackled teal paint has simply the most magnetic effect when viewing this table - the table has a certain elegance that juxtaposes the rustic nature of the surface...
Iron