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Grand Tour Animal Sculptures

GRAND TOUR STYLE

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 micromosaicssmall 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.

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Style: Grand Tour
Color:  Black
Antique Grand Tour 'King Charles Spaniel' Micro Mosaic Plaque, Italy, C.1850
Located in Chatham, ON
Antique Grand Tour 'King Charles Cavalier Spaniel' micro mosaic plaque - hand made to the finest quality with great detail - may be framed or mount...
Category

Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Animal Sculptures

Materials

Glass

Pair of Serpentine Grand Tour Lions
Located in Cheshire, GB
Pair of serpentine Grand Tour lions.
Category

19th Century Unknown Antique Grand Tour Animal Sculptures

Materials

Serpentine

Pair of Terracotta Lions, after Canova, 19th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
The pair of recumbent lions facing towards each other.
Category

19th Century English Antique Grand Tour Animal Sculptures

Materials

Terracotta

Grand Tour Marble Sculpture of the Melossian Hound
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This stylish and handsome piece dates to the "Grand Tour" period of Europe and is titled the "Melossian Hound" of ancient Greece, Albania, and is carve...
Category

Late 19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Animal Sculptures

Materials

Marble

Pair of 19th Century Italian Grand Tour Bronze Oil Lamps on Marble Bases
Located in Stamford, CT
Fantastic pair of Roman bronze tripod stands, each with three removable hanging oil lamps, each of those a different type, with a lid in the form of an animal, a rat, a hawk and a sw...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Animal Sculptures

Materials

Griotte Marble, Slate, Bronze

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Pair of Gilt Bronze Grand Tour Urns on Marble Bases
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Grand Tour Specimen Marbles Plaque, Italy, circa 1850
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Pair of 19th Century Sandstone Lions
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Pair of Cast Sculptures Bronze Lions, after Antonio Canova, 19th Century
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Continental Grand Tour Brass Statue of Napoleon Bonaparte
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Continental Grand Tour Brass Statue of Napoleon Bonaparte
Continental Grand Tour Brass Statue of Napoleon Bonaparte
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H 4.93 in W 1.97 in D 1.97 in
A Grand Tour Italian Specimen Marble Paperweight
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Pair of Cast Sculptures Bronze Lions, after Antonio Canova, 19th Century
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19th Century, Grand Tour Bronze Sphinx Statue on Sienna Marble Base
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Grand Tour animal sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Grand Tour animal sculptures for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage animal sculptures created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, wall decorations, building and garden elements and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with bronze, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Grand Tour animal sculptures made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and England pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original animal sculptures, popular names associated with this style include and Majolica Manufactory of Karlsruhe. 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 animal sculptures differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $582 and tops out at $108,390 while the average work can sell for $3,750.

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