For 18th-century young British noblemen, no education was complete without a year on the Grand Tour. Although it had no official route, the Grand Tour focused on places foundational to European art, literature and architecture, including sites in France, Germany, Switzerland and, most importantly, Italy. It was an opportunity not just to witness the roots of the classics they had studied but also to take some of it home. Grand Tour furniture was among the souvenirs.
Grand Tour furniture ranged from marble architectural models replicating ancient wonders to actual antiquities often taken illicitly, leaving a legacy of looting still being unraveled today. Other items reflected the artistic richness of the Renaissance cities and other destinations. In Italy, this included scagliola tables and pedestals mimicking marble as well as tabletops and wall panels embedded with pietra dura hard stone mosaics.
Furniture was also developed to display Grand Tour purchases in the owner’s home, presenting them as a cultivated and well-traveled person. Mahogany collector’s cabinets held objects like intaglio moldings of coins and seals while others had specialized drawers that framed pietra dura panels.
Many objects were specifically produced for Grand Tour collectors. Often accompanied by retinues on journeys lasting months or years, the elite travelers, the wealthiest of whom extended their trips to Egypt and the Holy Land, required artful personal mementos befitting the experience. For example, Grand Tour micromosaics — small artworks, most not more than two inches wide — arose from the entrepreneurial impulses of artisans who had trained in the Vatican’s workshops.
Grand Tour journeys would help inform a range of decorative styles such as neoclassical, Rococo and Adam style. (Architect and designer Robert Adam toured Italy and France for five years.) The Grand Tour flourished at a time of economic prosperity and political stability, but the French Revolution in 1789 brought it to an end. Yet as the tradition faded in popularity in England, the rising wealth of the United States led to an increase in tourism across the Atlantic and a similar passion for collecting to show one’s worldliness.
Find a collection of Grand Tour decorative objects, wall decorations, lighting and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Pair of Grand Tour Travertine Marble Candlesticks with Egyptian Revival
Located in Kastrup, DK
A pair of elegant Grand Tour candlesticks crafted from golden travertine marble and richly adorned with patinated bronze mounts. The stems feature engraved Egyptian Revival friezes d...
Marble, Bronze
$832Sale Price / set|20% Off
Large Pair of Grand Tour Style Bronze Male Caryatid Column Candlesticks
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of Grand Tour-Style Bronze Male Caryatid Column Candlesticks Italy, 20th century A large pair of architectural Grand Tour-style bronze male caryatid column candlesticks from Italy, made in the 20th century, Each candlestick stands 16 inches high, 5 inches wide, and 2 inches deep, with a finely cast, aged patinated bronze. The architectural column form features a muscular mythological male god...
Bronze
pair of Continental 19th century Grand Tour Period Verdigris Bronze candlesticks
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A very decorative pair of Continental 19th century Grand Tour Period Verdigris Bronze candlesticks. The pair are raised by a triangular shaped bases, one with three winged Sphinges while the other are three lions. The Sphinges are with ball and claw feet and spread wings surrounding the central fut with a 'C' scrolled tail. The lions with ball...
Bronze
Neoclassical Grand Tour Lion Paw Feet Candle Holder
Located in Elkhart, IN
A gorgeous grand tour or neoclassical style brass and black candlestick holder with lion paw feet USA, Late 20th Century Measures: 6"W x 6"D x 14.5"H. Very good original vintage c...
Brass
19th Century Grand Tour Italian Corinthian Column Bronze Candle Holders, Pair
Located in Elkhart, IN
A gorgeous pair of grand tour neoclassical gilded bronze Corinthian column candlestick holders Italy, circa Mid-19th Century Measures: 5.5"W x 5.5"D x 12.13"H. Very good ori...
Bronze
Antique Pair of French Sienna Marble Grand Tour Bronze Candelabra Candlesticks
Located in Dublin, Ireland
A very fine pair of French patinated chisel cast bronze and well grained sienna marble grand tour single light table or mantle candlesticks of impressive quality. first quarter of th...
Siena Marble, Ormolu, Bronze
Neoclassical Grand Tour Lion Paw Feet Candle Holder
Located in Elkhart, IN
A gorgeous grand tour or neoclassical style brass and black candlestick holder with lion paw feet USA, Late 20th Century Measures: 4"W x 4"D x 9.75"H. Very good original vintage c...
Brass
$1,036Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of 19th Century Grand Tour Roman Feet Bronze Candlesticks
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of 19th century grand tour Roman feet bronze candlesticks, each one realistically cast of one pair of human feet, that hold one standard candle.
Bronze
$3,014Sale Price / set|30% Off
Pair of Italian Candlesticks, Grand Tour, Early 19th Century
Located in Stockholm, SE
A large pair of candlesticks made of cast bronze and marble. Impressive design.
Marble, Bronze
$1,192Sale Price / set|47% Off
Early 19th Century Pair French Grand Tour Candlesticks with Eagles
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Early 19th Century Pair French Grand Tour Candlesticks with Eagles. Gorgeous shape. Please see pics and contact us with any questions.
Bronze
$1,280Sale Price / set|32% Off
Pair of 20th Century Bronze Hawk Candlesticks
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Pair of 20th Century Bronze Hawk Candlesticks. Grand tour era. Beautiful shape and detail.
Marble, Bronze
$3,493 / set
H 30 in W 13 in D 6 in
Pair 19th c Italian Neoclassic Urn-Carved Candelabras w/5 Candle Pricket Holders
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian pair of Neoclassical style five light candelabras from the 19th century. These antique candle holders from Italy are have gesso and silvered/gilt over a carved wood base i...
Iron
$4,500 / set
H 11.07 in W 5.25 in D 5.25 in
Large Pair of Neoclassical Sterling Silver Column-Form Candlesticks
Located in New York, NY
Large pair of Neoclassical (made in the Victorian Period), sterling silver column-form candlesticks, Sheffield, England, year-hallmarked for 1898, Henry Wigful - maker. Each candlestick measures 11 1/6 inches high x 5 1/4 inches deep x 5 1/4 inches wide. Columns are swirled in design. The capital of each column is designed with acanthus leaves. The base of each candlestick is decorated with profiles of the Green Man (a good luck symbol...
Sterling Silver
Crocodile Candle Holder
Located in Paris, FR
Candle Holder Crocodile with metal structure in brass vintage finish, for 1 candle, candle not included.
Metal, Brass
$1,800 / set
H 15.25 in Dm 4.5 in
Pair of Egyptian Revival Cold Painted Figural Candlesticks, Austria Circa 1925
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A strikingly impressive pair of early 20th century Egyptian Revival cold-painted spelter figural candlesticks, both showing columns cast in the form of finely modelled male & female ...
Spelter
Neoclassic Bronze Candle Holders
Located in Tampa, FL
A very unusual and attractive pair of tapered French bronze candle holders. circa 1800s.
Bronze
Pair of Sterling Silver Neoclassical-Style Column-Form Candlesticks
Located in New York, NY
Pair of sterling silver, Neoclassical-Style, column-form candlesticks, Empire Silversmiths Co., New York, Ca. 1960's. Each candlestick measures 5 1/2 inches high x 3 inches wide (at ...
Sterling Silver
Sculptural Ceramic Candle Holder – Handbuilt Organic Form Candle Holder
Located in Istanbul, TR
This sculptural ceramic candle holder is designed as a quiet interplay between form and light. The piece features an enclosed, cave-like structure that softly diffuses the candle’s g...
Stoneware
Art Deco Revival Pair of Crystal Candlesticks
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Pair of lead crystal candle holders was made in Czech Republic for Mikasa. Vintage reproduction of Art Deco style, the candle holders are ...
Crystal
$850 / set
H 9.75 in W 3.5 in D 3.5 in
Pair Antique Neoclassical Style Corinthian Column Gilt Bronze Candle Holders
Located in New York, NY
Pair Neoclassical style Corinthian column form gilt bronze candle holders Late 19th- Early 20th Century Attractive, well detailed Corinthian column capitals with reeded column bodies...
Bronze
Antique Polychromed Wall Candle Holder Italy 19th Century
Located in Čelinac, BA
Wooden Torch Holder Putto Italy 19th Century
Wood
$1,800 / set
H 11.25 in W 4 in D 4 in
Tall Pair of Sterling Silver Neoclassical-Style Corinthian Column Candlesticks
Located in New York, NY
Very tall pair of Neoclassical-style, sterling silver, Corinthian Column-form candlesticks, Birmingham, England, year-hallmarked for 1967, William A. Humphries, Ltd. - maker. Each ca...
Sterling Silver
Iron Candle Holders
Located in Los angeles, CA
Iron Candle Holders
Iron
Sold
H 12.5 in W 4.25 in D 4.25 in
Antique Grand Tour Style French Ormolu Bronze Dore Cherub Putti Candlestick 19Ct
Located in Dublin, Ireland
Absolutely stunning French chisel cast Patinated Bronze Classical standing scantily clad Cherub. Mid to late Nineteenth Century. Holding aloft a single ormolu candlestick holder, ...
Brass, Bronze, Ormolu
Neoclassical Style Bronze Candlesticks with Lion Heads, a Pair
Located in Elkhart, IN
A pair of Grand Tour Neoclassical style bronze candlesticks with lion heads and swags. The candle cups are removable.
Bronze
Sold
H 12.25 in W 5 in D 4.25 in
Antique Pair of French Sienna Marble Grand Tour Bronze Candelabra Candelabra
Located in Dublin, Ireland
A very fine pair of French bronze and well grained sienna marble grand tour single light table or mantle candlesticks of medium size, outstanding workmanship quality with good heavy ...
Siena Marble, Ormolu, Bronze
Sold
H 15.25 in W 6.25 in D 4.75 in
Pair of French Ormolu White Marble Twin Arm Garniture Candelabra Candlesticks
Located in Dublin, Ireland
An exceptionally fine quality pair of French gilt bronze & statutory cream marble twin arm candelabra of medium proportions, made during the third quarter of the nineteenth century. ...
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Sold
H 12.75 in W 5 in D 4.25 in
Antique Pair of French Sienna Marble Grand Tour Bronze Candelabra Candlesticks
Located in Dublin, Ireland
A very fine pair of French bronze & well grained sienna marble grand tour single light table or mantle candlesticks of unusually tall proportions, outstanding workmanship quality wit...
Siena Marble, Ormolu, Bronze
Sold
H 13 in W 7.5 in L 13 in
Pair of French Ormolu White Marble Twin Arm Garniture Candelabra Candlesticks
Located in Dublin, Ireland
An exceptionally fine quality pair of French gilt bronze and statutory cream marble twin arm candelabra of medium proportions, made during the third quarter of the 19th century. T...
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Sold
H 12.25 in W 5 in D 4.25 in
Antique Pair of French Sienna Marble Grand Tour Bronze Candelabra Candlesticks
Located in Dublin, Ireland
A very fine pair of French bronze and well grained sienna marble grand tour single light table or mantle candlesticks of medium size, outstanding workmanship quality with good heavy ...
Siena Marble, Ormolu, Bronze
Sold
H 9.06 in W 3.35 in D 3.35 in
Antique Vintage Pair of French Marble Gilt Bronze Dore Candelabra Candlesticks
Located in Dublin, Ireland
A fine pair of stylish and imposing French ormolu and cream statutory marble twin light table or mantle candelabra of outstanding quality, mid-late 19th century. Each with a cent...
Siena Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Sold
H 14.97 in W 4.34 in D 4.34 in
Antique Vintage Pair of French Ormolu Gilt Bronze Candelabra Candlesticks
Located in Dublin, Ireland
A fine pair of stylish and imposing French ormolu and patinated bronze three-light table or mantel (fireplace) candelabras or single light candlesticks of outstanding quality, mid to...
Bronze, Ormolu
Sold
H 15.46 in W 4.34 in D 3.55 in
Antique Pair of French Breche Violet Gilt Bronze Ormolu Candelabra Candlestick
Located in Dublin, Ireland
A fine pair of stylish and imposing French Ormolu and Breche Violete three light table or mantle candelabra of outstanding quality, mid-late 19th century. Each with a central standing ormolu solid bronze Cherub holding a loft a three-branch candelabra, modelled as leafy branches and candle holders as flower petals, ending on an ornate rectangular marble base with acanthus ormolu decoration, supported on four toupie feet. Condition: Superb condition with no losses to marble. Professionally re-gold plated. Measures: Height (an impressive, entire) 15.5" (39.25cm). Width (at base) 4.5” (11cm). Depth (at base) 3.25” (9cm). Location: Dublin City, Ireland. Breche Violet is a very decorative Italian Marble quarried in Seravezza, Carrara Basin...
Siena Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Sold
H 8.08 in W 6.11 in L 8.08 in
Pair of French Ormolu White Marble Twin Arm Garniture Candelabra Candlesticks
Located in Dublin, Ireland
An exceptionally fine quality pair of French gilt bronze and statutory cream marble twin arm candelabra of medium proportions, made during the third quarter of the 19th century. ...
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Sold
H 13.78 in W 4.73 in D 4.04 in
French Breche Violet Gilt Bronze Ormolu Candelabra Pierre-Philippe Thomire, Pair
Located in Dublin, Ireland
Stunning pair of French Ormolu and Breche Violet marble three-arm candelabra of generous proportions, attributed to Pierre-Philippe Thomire, made during the second quarter of the 19th century. The three foliate outswept arms spreading from a marble fruiting finial urn with Ram Heads above tall slender flanked supports terminating with claw feet. The triangular inverted marble base with lavish cast mounts, ending on its original ormolu toupie feet. Condition: Good condition for such early pieces with no losses to ormolu, which has been professionally re-gold-plated. There is an old repair to one marble base which is very well done and not visible, also the decorative ormolu castings at the back areas have been replaced with plain button type pins. Measures: Height (entire as shown on image one an impressive) 13.75" (35cm), width (at base) 4.75" (12cm), depth (at base) 4” (10.25cm). Location: Dublin City, Ireland. Breche Violet is a very decorative Italian Marble quarried in Seravezza, Carrara Basin...
Siena Marble, Bronze, Ormolu