Roman Furniture

According to Roman law, 'furniture' was described as 'any apparatus belonging to the head of the household consisting of articles intended for everyday use'. Under this ambiguous description numerous household artefacts could be considered as items of furniture. However, in this first general book on Roman furniture to be published in English, a more modern view of what constitutes furniture is taken. Familiar household pieces are investigated using evidence from art, literature and archaeology.

After an introudction to the sources of evidence and the different materials used in making Roman furniture, there follow individual chapters in the different categories of furniture, such as couches and beds, tables, chairs and stools, cupboards, storage boxes and shelving. Examples will be taken from all over the empire, but there will be special emphasis on furniture used in the north-west provinces. The final part of the book discusses the types of furniture found in rich and poor houses, including farm and military barracks, as well as the types of furniture to be found in specific rooms.