Skip to main content

Classical Roman Platters and Serveware

CLASSICAL ROMAN STYLE

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.

3
to
1
3
3
3
3
807
474
393
254
172
115
113
82
53
51
27
26
23
16
13
12
8
2
3
3
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
1
Style: Classical Roman
Large Footed Brass Service Tray for Bar or Table
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Exceptional brass handled footed tray for service or use for bar. Hammered tray with grapevine trimmed edge. Large piece measuring 31in long x 17in wide x 2in tall. Warm aged pati...
Category

Mid-20th Century Classical Roman Platters and Serveware

Materials

Brass, Copper

Elegant Classical Richard Ginori Serving Dish
Located in New York, NY
Covered dish with cobalt blue and gold trim, on white ceramic ground. Elegant design and proportions, perfect condition, and fully and correctly marked.
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Classical Roman Platters and Serveware

Materials

Ceramic

Piero Fornasetti Porcelain "Recipe" Plates Mid-Century Modern Set of Three
Located in North Miami, FL
These delightful hallmarked set of three Italian Mid-Century Modern Piero Fornasetti recipe plates are amusing and unusual. One is for stuffed crown roast or frankfurters, the other ...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Classical Roman Platters and Serveware

Materials

Porcelain

Related Items
Piero Fornasetti Porcelain Set of 8 Gilted Astrolabe Plates
Located in Paris, FR
Piero Fornasetti 1913-1988 lived and worked in Milano and he was very fond of science. This series normally is composed of 12 designs about astrolabe or "Astrolabos" in Greece which ...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Classical Roman Platters and Serveware

Materials

Porcelain

Piero Fornasetti Porcelain Recipe Plate, Beautiful Soup, Made for Fleming Joffe
Located in Downingtown, PA
Piero Fornasetti Fleming Joffe Porcelain recipe plate, Beautiful Soup, 1960s. This rare Piero Fornasetti porcelain plate is from a series of fourteen made for the Fleming Joffe company in New York City. It depicts an improbable and amusing recipe with an image of a toad. Diameter: 10 1/4 inches x 1 inch high. The Fleming Joffe company was a small leather goods...
Category

1960s Vintage Classical Roman Platters and Serveware

Materials

Porcelain

1960 Piero Fornasetti Porcelain Astronomici Plate, #7 in Series
Located in Downingtown, PA
1960 Piero Fornasetti porcelain plate with number 7 in the Astronomici series. Astronomici means "Astronomics". This is a rare pattern in black and ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Classical Roman Platters and Serveware

Materials

Porcelain

Vintage Italian Richard Ginori Porcelain Jewelry Dish, circa 1960s
Located in New York, NY
A vintage Italian white porcelain dish or bowl with gold detail by designer Richard Ginori, circa mid-20th century, 1960s, Italy. Dish was probabl...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Classical Roman Platters and Serveware

Materials

Porcelain

Piero Fornasetti Astrolabe Porcelain Plate 1968
Located in Atlanta, GA
A porcelain plate designed by Piero Fornasetti as no.4 of the twelves-piece set of the Astrolabe series between 1965-1976. The series each depicts an Astrolabio, an elaborate inclino...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Classical Roman Platters and Serveware

Materials

Porcelain

Piero Fornasetti Tema E Variazioni Porcelain Plate #78
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Piero Fornasetti "Tema e Variazioni" porcelain plate depicting the face of the famous opera singer Lina Cavalieri, no.78 / made in Milano Italy circa 1960. Original mark on t...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Classical Roman Platters and Serveware

Materials

Porcelain

Vintage Piero Fornasetti Porcelain Astrolabe Plate
Located in Downingtown, PA
Vintage Piero Fornasetti astrolabe plate, Numbered #7 in Series 1960s-mid 1970s. The Piero Fornasetti porcelain plate depicts an astrolabe in a ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Classical Roman Platters and Serveware

Materials

Porcelain

Richard Ginori Italian Porcelain Blue and White Vanity or Serving Tray
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful vintage Richard Ginori Italian white porcelain vanity or serving tray, circa mid-20th century, Italy. Piece is rectangular with handles and decorated in shades of blue, l...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Classical Roman Platters and Serveware

Materials

Porcelain

Large Antique English Footed Silver Plated Serving Tray with Floral Decoration
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This large footed silver plated serving tray is marked by an unknown maker, and originates from England and dates to approximately 1920 and done in a Victorian style. This large oval...
Category

Early 20th Century English Classical Roman Platters and Serveware

Materials

Silver Plate

Piero Fornasetti Tema e Variazioni Porcelain Black and White Large Dish Charger
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
The Italian artist and illustrator Piero Fornasetti was one of the wittiest, most imaginative design talents of the 20th Century. He crafted an inimitable decorative style from a personal vocabulary of images that included birds, butterflies, hot-air balloons, architecture and, most frequently, an enigmatic woman’s face. Fornasetti used...
Category

20th Century Italian Classical Roman Platters and Serveware

Materials

Porcelain

Large Jens Quistgaard for Dansk Denmark Teak Serving Tray
Located in Ferndale, MI
Dansk teak tray with duck logo marked Dansk Designs JHQ Denmark . Very nice possibly un touched condition. Fine sculptural and functional teak tray in fine condition .
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Classical Roman Platters and Serveware

Materials

Teak

20th Century Piero Fornasetti Plates Gilt Porcelain
Located in Epfach, DE
Piero Fornasetti plate, to use as a place plate, dinner plate as well as decoration the plates are in a nice used condition, small abrasions of the gold are not further disturbing bu...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Classical Roman Platters and Serveware

Materials

Porcelain

Previously Available Items
Minerva Introducing Painting into the Circle of the Liberal Arts
By Hans Jakob Bayr
Located in Kensington, MD
"Minerva Introducing Painting into the Circle of the Liberal Arts", circa 1850. After Hans Jakob Bayr (German 1574-1628) Silvered bronze Measures: 2" x 14.25" x 14.25" inches. ...
Category

19th Century European Antique Classical Roman Platters and Serveware

Materials

Bronze

Six Italian Piero Fornasetti Malachite & Gilded Porcelain "Stoviglia" Plates
Located in North Miami, FL
Set of six fabulous Fornasetti malachite designed porcelain with gilded forms of tabletop serving pieces. Signed Stovigilie Fornasetti Milano mad...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Classical Roman Platters and Serveware

Materials

Gold

Fornasetti Style Bucciarelli Porcelain Plates Set of 2 Italian
Located in North Miami, FL
These two Italian Mid-Century Modern gold painted porcelain plates are in the style of Piero Fornasetti. They are signed almost like Fornasetti. Bucciarelli was a Milano based porcel...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Classical Roman Platters and Serveware

Materials

Gold

Pair of Piero Fornasetti Hot Air Balloon Race Porcelain Plates Vintage
Located in North Miami, FL
This pair of Piero Fornasetti for Rosenthal Germany porcelain plates are identical and are whimsical. They are for a hot air balloon race from 1784. Fun a...
Category

1960s German Vintage Classical Roman Platters and Serveware

Materials

Porcelain

Italian Vintage Fornasetti Porcelain "Sezioni Di Frutta" Plate
Located in North Miami, FL
The luscious fruit of the pomegranate is depicted in great visual color in this hallmarked Fornasetti porcelain vintage plate. It is titled "Sezioni di Frutta". Made in Italy Fornas...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Classical Roman Platters and Serveware

Materials

Porcelain

Classical Roman platters and serveware for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Classical Roman platters and serveware for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage platters and serveware created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, brass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Classical Roman platters and serveware made in a specific country, there are Europe, and Italy pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original platters and serveware, popular names associated with this style include Fornasetti, and Richard Ginori. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for platters and serveware differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $540 and tops out at $3,785 while the average work can sell for $950.

Recently Viewed

View All