Roman Style Furniture

These apartments were known as "Insulae", meaning "island houses". They were often three or more floors high. As the higher floors were only made of wood, and supported on wooden beams, there was always a serious risk of fire and collapse.

Poor Romans would have had no furniture and would have slept on bug-ridden mats in their crowded insulae, apartments. However, even the well-off Romans did not have much furniture..

The Romans used chiefly cedar and veneered their furniture with olive, box, ebony, Syrian terebinth, maple, palm, holly, elm, ash, and cherry. They are said also to have used tortoiseshell, horn, and ivory in their more decorative inlays. Summarized, Roman furniture consisted of the curule chair, a square seat with X- shaped legs ; the bisellium, or double seat ; the solium or special chair for the use of the head or ruler of the household ; footstools ; scamnum, bench, the cathedra, a chair used by women ; table (mensa) ; bed (lectus) and couch (lectus triclinium) ; and cupboard (armarium). Couches were frequently covered with tilts and curtains, arranged so that they could be carried as litters by slaves. Many articles of furniture were of bronze.

Among the historic furniture treasured by nations and religious bodies an especial halo of romance surrounds the "chair of St Peter," a solid square seat with pedimental back which is paneled with carved ivory. It was encased in bronze by Bernini in the fourth or fifth century. Legend suggests that the chair was originally in the possession of Pudens, an early Christian convert, and that it had been given to him by St Peter. This remarkable chair is now the throne of the Pontiff of Rome, and its age is undoubted, if not its legendary ownership.

The main item of Roman Furniture would be a bed on which the Roman slept, rested and even received visitors. Ancient Roman beds were made out of wood, and expensive beds were decorated with shell, ivory and gold and covered with colorful and rich cloths.

Chairs were not often found though a wealthy Roman woman might have a cathedra, which was a chair with a sloping back. She would have used this when putting on her makeup, receiving visitors, and resting.

Tables were used but were lightweight items, often with folding legs.

Couches were used that were similar to the beds for sitting on during the day and eating meals.

The only other significant item of furniture found in wealthy Roman homes was the strongbox. The strongbox would have been fitted with an iron lock and key and would have been used to store the families valuables.

Oven

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