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Grand Tour 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
Silver Bust of Menelaus King of Sparta Grand Tour
Located in Rochester, NY
19th century silver plate bust Menelaus mythological king of Sparta. A fine casting with rich patina. Ebonized wood base. Illegible hallmark. In Greek mythology, Menelaus was a king ...
Category

19th Century European Antique Grand Tour Sculptures

Materials

Silver Plate

Italian Grand Tour Bronze Bust of Caesar
Located in Essex, MA
Bronze bust on yellow marble socle.
Category

Late 19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Sculptures

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Fine Large Patinated Bronze Bust of a Roman or Greek Nobleman
Located in New York, NY
Fine and very detailed patinated bronze bust of a Roman or Greek nobleman.
Category

19th Century French Antique Grand Tour Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Grand Tour Bronze Figurines of Boy and Girl
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Grand Tour bronze sculptures depicting playful boy and girl. Apparently unsigned and each in good condition.
Category

Late 19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Antique plaster Bust of Cupid After Francois Duquesnoy (1597-1643)
Located in New York, NY
Antique Grand Tour plaster bust of a cherub after the original model by Francois Duquesnoy (1597-1643) dating from the early 20th century. Likely of Italian or French origin.
Category

Early 20th Century French Grand Tour Sculptures

Materials

Plaster

Grand Tour terracotta bust of an Egyptian princess, 19th c
Located in Stockholm, SE
This striking small bust captures the timeless elegance of an Egyptian princess, inspired by the art and aesthetics of Tell-el-Amarna, a period known for its distinctive representati...
Category

Late 19th Century Egyptian Antique Grand Tour Sculptures

Materials

Terracotta

A Pair of 18th C. Italian Grand Tour Busts of Emperors Domitian and Nerva
Located in New York, NY
A Pair of Grand Tour Period 18th C. Italian Roman Busts of Emperors Domitian and Nerva. These busts depict the Roman Emperors Domitian and Nerva, and demonstrate finely cast and han...
Category

Late 18th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Sculptures

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Grand Tour Era, Mixed Specimen Marble & Gemstone Obelisk
Located in Atlanta, GA
Continental, 19th century. A grand tour era (possibly Italian) obelisk constructed with a stepped black marble square base, a highly decorated mixed material stem which consists of ...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Sculptures

Materials

Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Marble, Belgian Black Marble

Pair of Rock Crystal Obelisks and Sphere
Located in Hanover, MA
Beautiful grouping of clear rock crystal quarts pair of obelisks and a sphere.
Category

1950s Brazilian Vintage Grand Tour Sculptures

Materials

Rock Crystal

Bronze Statuette of Venus, 2nd Half 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Small dark patinated figure of Venus on round profiled plinth.
Category

Mid-19th Century European Antique Grand Tour Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

1890 Steel Engraving Greco Roman Scene by Bernard Picture Co. New York Borghese
Located in Miami, FL
1890 Framed steel engraving Greco Roman scene by Bernard Picture Co. New York, New York. Marked Borghese on the reverse. O-506-335
Category

19th Century American Antique Grand Tour Sculptures

Materials

Steel

Pair of Antique Italian Walnut Statues of Gladiators
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A pair of antique Italian walnut statues, after the antique Borghese Gladiator. In Grand Tour style, this decorative pair are a stunning feature for a period property looking to app...
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Sculptures

Materials

Marble

Borghese 1890 Steel Engraving Greco Roman Scene Bernard Picture Co. New York
Located in Miami, FL
Framed 1890 Steel Engraving Greco Roman scene sand clock by Bernard Picture Co. New York, New York. Marked Borghese on the reverse. O-505-335
Category

19th Century American Antique Grand Tour Sculptures

Materials

Steel

Pair of Grand Tour 19th Century Bronze Putti Figures on Marble Bases, C 1860
Located in Central England, GB
This small pair of fine Italian Grand Tour bronze figures are of classical putti naked apart from a belt of vine leaves and grapes around their lower torso...
Category

1860s Italian Antique Grand Tour Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

A Italian equestrian specimen marble carved study of a wild stallion and mare
Located in Central England, GB
This remarkable horse sculpture depicts a head and shoulders study of a wild stallion and mare carved meticulously from figured and veined natural marble stone with colours ranging f...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Grand Tour Sculptures

Materials

Marble

A Fine Grand Tour Bronze Bust of a Greek Philosopher, After Mathurin Moreau
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
This finely modelled Hellenistic style bronze portrait bust appears to be that of the Greek philosopher Chrysippus of Soli - regarded by scholars as the 2nd founder of the School of ...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Grand Tour Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

French Grand Tour Patinated Bronze Animalier Mounted Thermometer
Located in London, GB
A fine and unusual French antique Grand Tour table thermometer in patinated bronze. Set upon a naturalistic trefoil shaped patinated bronze base with...
Category

1840s French Antique Grand Tour Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Reclaimed Roman Style Mosaic Floor Fragment on Stand
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A reclaimed Roman style mosaic floor fragment on a stand. It contains intricate mosaic work in a Greek key pattern using contrasting black and white marble, giving it the look of an ancient Roman villa or bath house. Suggestive of a larger design, it includes a bespoke steel stand for use as a historical display piece. We have a similar mosaic fragment...
Category

Mid-19th Century English Antique Grand Tour Sculptures

Materials

Cement, Marble, Steel

Vintage Grand Tour Plaster Bust of Man - a Pair
Located in west palm beach, FL
A fabulous pair of vintage plaster busts. A handsome man with an even more handsome beard. Done in the grand tour style. Painted a bright white. A...
Category

Mid-20th Century Grand Tour Sculptures

Materials

Plaster, Paint

Italian Marble Bust of a Girl, 18th Century
Located in London, by appointment only
Italian 18th Century Marble Bust of a Girl Late 18th century bust of a girl, in the manner of Luigi Valadier Son of Andrea Valadier, a Prove...
Category

18th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Sculptures

Materials

Marble

A Grand Tour Style Model of a Stallion after the Antique, Italy Circa 1900
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A very handsome & finely modelled, patinated antimonial lead casting of a bridled stallion. Shown rearing up on it's hind legs, the head turned slightly to the right with pricked ear...
Category

Early 1900s Italian Antique Grand Tour Sculptures

Materials

Marble, Other, Lead

Large Antique Copeland Tile of Cherub & Lion
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A large antique Copeland tile depicting a cherub and lion. This 8 inch clay tile dates to circa 1876, displaying a putti with a cape holding a fruiting cornucopia before a lion in m...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Grand Tour Sculptures

Materials

Clay

A Fine Grand Tour Style Bronze of Mercury Mounted as a Table Lamp, Circa 1900
By Giambologna
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
The large & finely proportioned cast bronze figure of Mercury - Roman god of abundance & commercial success, shown cradling a caduceus in one hand - the other arm outstretched toward...
Category

Early 20th Century European Grand Tour Sculptures

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Pair of 19th Century '1850s' Grand Tour Italian Carved Multi-Marble Busts
Located in North Miami, FL
A pair 19th century (1850s) (Grand Tour) Italian carved multi-marble busts of Augustus of Prima Porta and Julius Cesar. These extremely fine an...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Sculptures

Materials

Marble, Carrara Marble

Large Antique Plaster Sculptors Model of Mercury
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A large antique painted plaster sculptors model or machete of Mercury. Dating to circa 1900, the sculpture depicts Roman God Mercury seated on a rock in a patinated plaster finish. In Neoclassical style, this French sculpture is an impressive size displaying expertly hand-carved craftsmanship. An exceptional decorative antique for properties looking to appreciate Neoclassical style and Roman mythology. Mercury Mercury is the Roman god of shopkeepers and merchants, travellers and transporters of goods, and thieves and tricksters. He is commonly identified with the Greek Hermes...
Category

Early 20th Century French Grand Tour Sculptures

Materials

Plaster, Paint

Fine Pair of Grand Tour Style Miniature Bronze Busts, Continental, circa 1900
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A very handsome pair of classical bronze busts raised on white alabaster columns decorated with gilt metal rings, atop squared rouge royal marble...
Category

Early 20th Century German Grand Tour Sculptures

Materials

Alabaster, Bronze

Antique Regency Statuary Marble Bust
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An antique Regency white statuary marble bust of a young Roman man. Dating to 1820, this is an impressive sculpture of a young man, wearing a Roman toga on a round socle base in Reg...
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Sculptures

Materials

Marble, Statuary Marble

Large Antique Tile of the Meeting of Ulysses
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A large antique patent clay tile of the Meeting of Ulysses by R. Davies & Co. The perfect decorative piece for a period property looking to add eleganc...
Category

Early 19th Century English Antique Grand Tour Sculptures

Materials

Steel

Pair of Antique Grand Tour Patinated Bronze Grey Hounds Seated Marble Plinths
Located in New York, NY
A Beautiful Pair of 19th Century Antique Grand Tour Patinated Bronze Grey Hounds Seated on Marble Plinths. Each dog is beautifully cast and hand-chi...
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Sculptures

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Grand Tour sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Grand Tour 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 sculptures created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, more furniture and collectibles, building and garden elements and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Grand Tour sculptures made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and France pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original sculptures, popular names associated with this style include F. Barbedienne Foundry, Ferdinand Barbedienne, Borghese, and Achille Collas. 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 sculptures differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $175 and tops out at $108,390 while the average work can sell for $2,800.

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