Grand Tour Decorative Objects
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 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.
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Style: Grand Tour
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Alabaster, Bronze
French Bronze Match Strike in the Form of an Old Soldier as a Water Seller
Located in London, GB
A very well cast and interesting French patinated bronze match strike. It is in the form of a water seller, in the uniform of an old Republican soldier, sitting on a bench. He is seen wearing a tricorn hat with a cockade to the brim, mutton chop whiskers, with a water cistern on his back and the cistern lid at his feet. In his hand and on straps are the water cups and in his belt a pair of pistols...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Grand Tour Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Inkstand of Neopolitan Fisherman
Located in London, GB
A good Italian Grand Tour model of a Neopolitan fisherman at his work. In ormolu and patinated bronze the oval base is naturalistically decorated with rocks and seaweed which the fis...
Category
1860s Italian Antique Grand Tour Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Antique Chased Silver Snuff Box Set with Fine Italian Micromosaic Plaque
Located in London, GB
The small rectangular silver snuff box, chased with foliage decorations and featuring a hinged back, is set with a detailed micromosaic plaque on top. The plaque depicts a rural land...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Decorative Objects
Materials
Stone, Silver
Late 19th Century Grand Tour Italian Bronze Sculpture of Nude Venus Candlestick
Located in Lisse, NL
Elegant and highly stylish candlestick or table lamp.
This handcrafted and heavy quality, bronze candle stick or table lamp from the 1890-1910 era is in very good condition. This ro...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Grand Tour Bronze and Alabaster Tazza, Italian, Late 19th Century
Located in San Francisco, CA
An exuberant alabaster bowl affixed to a rams head bronze stand with paw feet, standing on a circular base of wrapped sheafs of wheat, Italy, circa 1880.
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Decorative Objects
Materials
Alabaster, Bronze
19th Century Italian Ruby Glass Box with Miniature of Basilica
Located in Dallas, TX
Lovely little 19th century ring jar or pill box made of a thick wine colored ruby glass.
It has a miniature of a Basilica on top, gilt metal mounts with beautiful filigree on the si...
Category
Early 19th Century Vatican Antique Grand Tour Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
Marmo Gialo and Bronze Stamp Box, 19th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
Italian Grand Tour stamp box, 19th century.
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Decorative Objects
Materials
Siena Marble
Large Grand Tour Verdigris Bronze Sculpture of Spinario by Benedetto Boschetti
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A large-scale and very finely modeled Grand Tour bronze sculpture after the Greco-Roman model of "Spinario" or the "Boy with Thorn" by Benedetto Boschetti...
Category
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
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 standing atop the mouth of Aeolus - Ruler of the Four Winds, while ...
Category
Early 20th Century European Grand Tour Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble, Bronze
19th century Grand Tour Green Marble Tazza Vase with Classical Carved Details
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A Grand Tour 19th century green marble tazza vase with classical carved motifs on tall pedestal. After a model of the renowned Warwick vase, this Grand Tour...
Category
19th Century Antique Grand Tour Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble
Pair of Sienna Marble and Bronze Tazzas
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of Sienna marble and bronze tazzas dating from the early 19th century, purchased in France. This pair is possibly French or European. D...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Grand Tour Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Mid-19th Century Faux Tortoiseshell and Ormolu Tabletop Vitrine, circa 1860
Located in London, GB
A 19th century French faux tortoiseshell tabletop vitrine with gilt bronze mounts, superb quality. With original key and original bevelled glass.
U...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Grand Tour Decorative Objects
Materials
Ormolu
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 swan. The detail on these is incredible, not an exact pair, one has stags heads the other goats heads, one a figure of Mercury, the other of young Dionysus...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Decorative Objects
Materials
Griotte Marble, Slate, Bronze
Bronze Sculpture of the Borghese Warrior
Located in Miami, FL
Bronze sculpture after the Borghese Warrior of which the original life sized statue is in the Louvre. Placed on a marble plate. Comes with a wood and ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Grand Tour Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Antique Grand Tour Classical Regency Carved Marble Plaque Battle Travalgar 1805
Located in Dublin, Ireland
Superb and quite rare example of an exquisitely hand carved in really seldom seen high relief rectangular Marble Plaque depicting the “Battle of Trafalgar” scene of generous size, ea...
Category
19th Century British Antique Grand Tour Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble
Vintage Brass Verdigris Male Head Bust Sculpture
Located in Elkhart, IN
A gorgeous brass verdigris Grand Tour classical style male head bust sculpture
USA, Late 20th century
Measures: 3.75"W x 4.5"D x 5.25"H.
Good vintage condition.
Category
Late 20th Century American Grand Tour Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Grand Tour Revival Smoky Quartz Orbs on Stands, 2
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Grand Tour Revival smoky quartz spheres upon gilt bronze laurel wreath stands mounted atop smoky rock crystal bases, the mineral specimens with inclusions and rainbows. Each ...
Category
20th Century Grand Tour Decorative Objects
Materials
Quartz, Rock Crystal, Brass
Edouard Henri Delesalle Bronze Venus De Milo Grand Tour Bronze Sculpture
Located in Atlanta, GA
Edouard Henri Delesalle (French, 1823-1851), circa 1840.
A good quality Grand Tour model of Venus de Milo cast in bronze.
"Venus de Milo or Aphrodite of Melos is an ancient Greek ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Grand Tour Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Antique Pair Grand Tour Bronze Egyptian Sphynx Figures Breche Violet Marble 19Ct
Located in Dublin, Ireland
An Extremely Imposing seated identical pair of chisel cast patinated Bronze Egyptian Sphynx, early Nineteenth Century, Possibly Regency period and of French origin.
Complete with extremely well figured Breche Violet marble rectangular heavy gauge bases.
Condition: Good condition with no losses to bronzes or marble. Wonderful untouched surface patination.
Width: (at base an impressive) 12.5" (32cm). Height: 6” (15.25cm). Depth: 6.25” (16cm).
Location: Dublin City, Ireland.
Affordable fixed charge Worldwide Store to door shipping offered.
NOTE: A sphinx (or sphynx) is a creature with the body of a lion and the head of a human, with some variations. It is a prominent mythological figure in Egyptian, Asian, and Greek mythology.
In ancient Egypt, the sphinx was a spiritual guardian and most often depicted as a male with a pharaoh headdress—as is the Great Sphinx—and figures of the creatures were often included in tomb and temple complexes. For instance, the so-called Sphinx Alley in Upper Egypt is a two-mile avenue that connects the temples of Luxor and Karnak and is lined with sphinx statues.
Sphinxes with the likeness of the female pharaoh Hatshepsut also exist, such as the granite sphinx statue at the Metropolitain Museum of Art in New York and the large alabaster sphinx...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Decorative Objects
Materials
Breccia Marble, Brass, Bronze, Ormolu
Antique Grand Tour Bronze Boar Sculpture of “Il Porcellino” After Pietro Tacca
By Pietro Tacca
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique Grand Tour bronze sculpture.
Depicting a seated boar on a pink Italian marble plinth.
"Il Porcellino" is the ...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Grand Tour Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Pair 19th C. Grand Tour Rouge Marble Obelisks of Montecitorio w/ Hieroglyphics
Located in New York, NY
A Marvelous Pair of 19th Century Italian Grand Tour Rouge Marble Obelisks of Montecitorio w/ Hieroglyphics. This magnificent example of the grand tour souvenirs that were popular in the 19th century are very rare to find in this size, quality, condition and form. These obelisks are made from a beautiful rouge marble and are adorned with intricate hieroglyphics, adding to their unique and exotic appeal. Each obelisk stands at an impressive height, making them an imposing decorative item for any room. The base of each obelisk is square-shaped and has a stepped design, adding to their visual interest. The obelisks also have a tapered shape, which is typical of ancient Egyptian obelisks.
The hieroglyphics that adorn the obelisks are expertly carved and add to their historical appeal. The hieroglyphics are a form of ancient Egyptian writing, and they were commonly used to decorate ancient Egyptian monuments...
Category
1850s Italian Antique Grand Tour Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble
Pair of 19th Century Bronze and Crystal Cornucopia Vases
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Pair of 19th Century Bronze and Crystal Cornucopia Vases. Goat bronze base on Italian marble and crystal vase. Gorgeous.
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Grand Tour Decorative Objects
Materials
Crystal, Marble, Bronze
Continental Grand Tour Brass Statue of Napoleon Bonaparte
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A nice quality continental Grand Tour brass figure of Napoleon Bonaparte standing on a column and dating from the 19th century. Made from solid brass the renowned French Military Lea...
Category
19th Century French Antique Grand Tour Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Bronze Sculpture of the Venus de Milo
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This cast bronze of the Venus de Milo dates to the late 19th century and was acquired during the "Grand Tour" of Europe.
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Regency French Ormolu Gilded Candelabras Featuring Turkish Figures
Located in Dublin 8, IE
Pair of Regency French ormolu gilded candelabras featuring Turkish figures supporting three foliate carved candle branches with urn-shaped bobeches. ...
Category
19th Century European Antique Grand Tour Decorative Objects
Materials
Ormolu
Antique Grand Tour Italian Marble & Gemstone Pietra Dura Paperweight
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique Grand Tour paperweight.
With a black slate border and base inlaid with a pietra dura mosaic of various colorful gemstones and stones to the center.
Simply a grea...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Decorative Objects
Materials
Multi-gemstone, Marble
XIXth Century Grand Tour Bust of Caracalla and Its Porphyry Column
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
A XIXth century grand tour bust of caracalla and its porphyry column.
Bust of the Roman Emperor Caracalla in Polychromed resin simulating different ...
Category
1860s Italian Antique Grand Tour Decorative Objects
Materials
Porphyry, Belgian Black Marble, Ormolu
Antique Grand Tour Pietra Paesina & Specimen Marble Rimmed Dish or Bowl
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique grand tour hardstone rimmed dish or bowl.
With a large central piece of Pietra Paesina (so called "ruins" marble).
The rim is set with various hardstone specimens, i...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Grand Tour Decorative Objects
Materials
Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Limestone, Marble
Capitoline Venus Grand Tour Mid 19th century bronze
By Praxiteles 1
Located in Mobile, AL
This grand tour bronze sculpture depicts the version of Venus so important to the history of art and literature in the U.S. that the original was temporarily loaned to the National Gallery of Art from the Capital Museums in Rome in 2011. Mark Twain visited Rome and upon his return home in 1867 he published "The Capitoline Venus" and he described the work as the “most illustrious work of ancient art the world can boast of". (with credit to the National Gallery of Art catalog...
Category
Mid-19th Century European Antique Grand Tour Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Pair Grand Tour Bacchus Influence Putti, 19th Century
Located in Brighton, Sussex
An enchanting pair of late 19th century patinated and gilded bronze reclining Bacchus influenced Putti, mounted on carved Sienna marble plinths.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Grand Tour Decorative Objects
Materials
Siena Marble, Bronze
Bronze Sculpture of Narcissus by G Anodio
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This large scale bronze sculpture of Narcissus dates to around 1890s and was created by the G Anodio foundry of Naples, Italy.
Note: S...
Category
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Grand Tour Models of Trajan's Column & Cleopatra's Needle, a Pair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Grand tour models of Trajan's column & Cleopatra's needle, a pair
Both with fine detail, and remnants of a thermometer standing 7.5" H x 3" square black marble base affixed with a bronze fence...
Category
19th Century European Antique Grand Tour Decorative Objects
Materials
Belgian Black Marble, Bronze, Metal
Grand Tour decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Grand Tour decorative objects 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 decorative objects 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 decorative objects 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 decorative objects, popular names associated with this style include F. Barbedienne Foundry, Achille Collas, Ferdinand Barbedienne, and Borghese. 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 decorative objects 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 $2,528.
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