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.
C. 1880's Greco-Roman Ram's Head Shaped Pottery Rhyton in Box
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1880s Ram's Head Shaped Pottery Rhyton in Box, Greco-Roman. A Grand Tour collector piece. Red figure decorated pottery, Attic or Apulian. In a circa 1900 display box or case (n...
Pottery
$956Sale Price|20% Off
Giustiniani Egyptomania Pottery Plate with Gilt Highlights, Swan Left
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Giustiniani Egyptomania pottery plate with gilt highlights, and a central left facing swan Neapolitan manufacture (Biagio Giustiniani & Sons) dated to 1830-1840, impressed script G.
Pottery
$896Sale Price|25% Off
Giustiniani Egyptomania Pottery Plate with Gilt Highlights, Urn
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Giustiniani Egyptomania Pottery plate with gilt highlights, and a central urn Neapolitan manufacture (Biagio Giustiniani & Sons) dated to 1830-1840, impressed script Giustiniani an...
Pottery
$956Sale Price|20% Off
Giustiniani Egyptian Motif Pottery Plate with Gilt Highlights, Rodent
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Giustiniani Egyptomania Pottery plate with gilt highlights, and a central Rodent Neapolitan manufacture (Biagio Giustiniani & Sons) dated to 1830-1840 19th century, impressed scrip...
Pottery
$1,047Sale Price|29% Off
Giustiniani Egyptomania Pottery Plate with Anubis
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Giustiniani Egyptomania pottery plate with Anubis and gilt highlights Neapolitan manufacture (Biagio Giustiniani & Sons) dated to 1830-1840, impressed s...
Pottery
$956Sale Price|20% Off
Giustiniani Egyptomania Pottery Plate with Gilt Highlights, Swan Right
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Giustiniani Egyptomania pottery plate with gilt highlights, and a central right facing swan Neapolitan manufacture (Biagio Giustiniani & Sons) dated to 1830-1840, impressed script G.
Pottery
$155Sale Price|40% Off
Antique Handmade Faience Bread Basket, Majolica, Italy, 1920s
Located in New Orleans, LA
An outstanding, hand painted, handmade pottery, bread holder created in Naples, Italy circa 1920s having intricate colorful applied swags of flowers around the boat shaped rim above a floral painted lattice work below. Superb attention to detail and selection of it's colors of spring green, blue, rose, yellow and lavender. The workmanship is absolutely stunning to behold and would make a beautiful centerpiece for your dining table, sideboard or in your cabinet. Put a floral frog...
Majolica
Robert Picault Vallauris Mid-Century Hand Painted Pottery Pan Shaped Dish
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A rare and important stunning French art pottery pan shaped handled serving dish by Robert Picault and made in Vallauris in the South of France. Working cl...
Pottery, Terracotta
$1,345 / set
H 6 in Dm 7.75 in
Poterie De Bavent French Pottery Covered Terrines with Under-Plates, Set of Four
By Bavent
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A marvelous set of four individual terrines from the Poterie de Bavent, Normadie, France circa 1900-1920. Potted and glazed by hand, each terrine includes a lid and under-plate – ...
Earthenware
Italian Early 20th Century Pottery Bowl with Rooster Motif and Green Border
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian pottery bowl from the early 20th century, with rooster motif and green border. Created in Italy during the early years of the 20th century, this pottery bowl charms us wit...
Pottery
Vintage Boho Signed Studio Pottery Plates With Afghan Dogs - Set of 4
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A fabulous set of four vintage plates. Beautiful hand made studio pottery plates with artist signature on the back of each. A chic Afghan dog design in the ...
Pottery
Vintage Boho Studio Pottery Plates- Set of 8
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A fabulous set of 8 gorgeous dinner and salad plates. Super chic hand made studio pottery in thr most beautiful shade of green. Four dinner plates and four salad plates. Acquired fro...
Pottery
$1,102
H 2.76 in W 12.21 in D 12.21 in
Important Wall Ceramic Abstract Plate Decoration by JN Gerard French Pottery
By Jean Nicolas Gerard
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
J.N. Gerard French ceramic wall plate realised in the 1990s. Excellent original conditions, signed under the base Dimensions: 7 x 31 x 31cm.
Pottery
Genuine 1880s Albany Slip Glazed Anna Pottery Stoneware Pig Flask
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Albany slip glazed Anna pottery stoneware pig flask by Wallace and Cornwall Kirkpatrick, Anna. Anatomically correct prone pig. In sized inscriptions "Fine Old Burmann Inn" and alongside "Lard Oil Drill". Underside flask opening under tail. Anna Pottery was s operative by the Kirkpatrick brothers between 1859 and 1896. They took part in art exhibitions such as Philadelphia Centennial in 1876 and the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago 1893. In 1938 the first inscription of Anna pottery was published in the New York Historical Society. Pieces of Anna pottery pigs...
Pottery
Vintage Black Glazed Pottery in the Wabi Sabi Style
Located in Old Town Orange, CA
Medium black glazed pottery, wabi sabi style with perfect imperfections. Size: 8.5"D x 9"H Opening: 5.75" SKU: small
Clay
Ginger Jar Shaped Vase In Celery & Rough Sand Glaze
Located in Chicago, IL
Unusual petite vase in a tradition Asian ginger jar form with the uncommon rough sand like finish. The celery colored glaze abstract forms are outlined in black.
$600Sale Price|20% Off
H 20.25 in W 9.75 in D 9.75 in
Oversized Antique Satsuma Style Engraved Pottery Swan Vase, C1920
By Satsuma
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique and large pottery vase in the manner of Satsuma offers pottery construction with engraved and hand painted pond scene with swans and stylized cloud elements, C1920. M...
Pottery
Vintage Matte Oil Pottery in Large Size
Located in Old Town Orange, CA
Discover the charm of vintage matte oil pottery, showcasing stunning gray hues and unique imperfections that add character to each piece. Crafted from clay, these timeless pots displ...
Clay
Gouda Pottery Vintage Dutch Plate
By Gouda Plateelbakkerij Zuid-Holland
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Gouda Pottery Vintage Dutch Plate This stunning "Plazuid" earthenware wall plate is a real collector's item! Made by the renowned Plateelbakkerij Zuid-Holland in Gouda, around 1950, ...
Ceramic
Grand Tour Antique Italian Aksos Art Pottery Glazed Jug
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A good quality antique Italian Aksos art pottery jug moulded with a child figure dating from the 19th century. The jug is heavily potted standing on an oval foot with a sack shaped b...
Ceramic
Sold
H 27 in W 22 in D 1.5 in
Collection of 19th Century Gilt / Plaster Intaglios / Grand Tour, Pair Ovals
Located in Stamford, CT
Collection of Grand Tour 19th Century gilt / plaster Intaglios in a pair of oval frame. A stunning group of approx. 300 Intaglios, the largest collection on the market having approxi...
Glass, Plaster, Giltwood
19th Century Grand Tour Greek Wine Jug
Located in Rochester, NY
19th century grand tour pottery. These are handmade and hand painted. Paint loss and accretion is intentional and copied from the original.
Ceramic, Pottery
19th Century Grand Tour Greek Wine Jug
Located in Rochester, NY
19th century grand tour pottery. These are handmade and hand painted. Paint loss and accretion is intentional and copied from the original.
Ceramic, Pottery
Naples Giustiniani Grand Tour Etruscan Style Antique Dish
Located in Katonah, NY
Painted with Roman figures in black, white and brownish red on a glazed terracotta ground. Made in the factory of the Giustiniani family which began making fine ceramics in Naples in...
Terracotta
19th Century Grand Tour Large Pedestal Urn with Handles
Located in Troy, MI
Circa 1890s large ceramic urn depicting classical Greek figures with a pedestal base, side handles applied low on the sides of the vessel and a flared opening. We have a number of ot...
Pottery