Grand Tour Lighting
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
Exceptional Big 73cm Natural Alabaster Table Lamps Column Italy 20th Century
Located in Mombuey, Zamora
*Compare the size of the glass of water in the photo with the size of the lamp to understand its dimensions.
Excelent conditions, like new
These alabaster lamp are of excellent qua...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Grand Tour Lighting
Materials
Alabaster
Pair Antique Grand Tour French Empire Pate-sur-Pate Jasperware Ormolu Urns Lamps
Located in Dublin, Ireland
An Exceptionally Stylish Pair of Grand Tour French Pate-sur-Pate Jasperware and Ormolu mounted French Urns of Museum quality and of French origin, now converted to a Pair of Electric...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Grand Tour Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Italian Grand Tour Style Gilt Bronze & Tole Lamp After the Roman Antique
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Italian Grand Tour Style Gilt Bronze & Tole Lamp After the Roman Antique
Italy, Circa 1950s
Set includes the gilt bronze lamp and Tole shade.
This exquisite Italian Grand Tour-st...
Category
20th Century Italian Grand Tour Lighting
Materials
Metal, Bronze
18th Century Italian Bronze Hanging Oil Lamp
Located in Bradenton, FL
18th Century Italian hanging bronze oil lamp with removable lid. Solid bronze. Can be hung or used as a stand-alone decorating piece. Great piece to use with any decor. Dimensions l...
Category
18th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Italian Grand Tour Style Carrara Marble Table Lamps
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Dimensions: H: 29 1/4in W: 4 3/4in D: 4 3/4in
Shade Dimension: W: 16 1/4in D: 14in
This Pair of Italian Grand Tour Style Carrara Marble Table Lamps are truly made if the highest ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Grand Tour Lighting
Materials
Marble, Carrara Marble, Brass
18th Century India Bronze Hanging Oil Lamp
Located in Bradenton, FL
18th Century Sri Lankan hanging bronze oil lamp with Makara head spout. Solid bronze. Can be hung or used as a stand-alone decorating piece. Great piece to use with any decor. Dimen...
Category
18th Century Sri Lankan Antique Grand Tour Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Roman Bronze Oil Lamp With Theatrical Mask Handle
Located in Bradenton, FL
A rare Roman Grand Tour cast bronze oil lamp with a pear-shaped body leading to a curvaceous spout. Handle has a theatrical mask with expressive facial features and tight curly hair....
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Lighting
Materials
Bronze
C 19th Venetian Carved Gondolier Figure Candlestand
By Venetian School
Located in Dereham, GB
C 19th Venetian Carved Gondolier Figure Candlestand,
With Polychrome Decoration
Gondolier, Holding a paddle & Cornucopia shaped holder for Candle.
Standing on part gondola
The Se...
Category
1830s Italian Antique Grand Tour Lighting
Materials
Pine
Grand Tour Model of the Eiffel Tower, Now as a Lamp
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Grand Tour model of the Eiffel Tower, now as a lamp, newly wired. The architectural model stands 30" high, 33" high to the top of the socket.
Category
Early 20th Century French Grand Tour Lighting
Materials
Wrought Iron
Italian Neoclassical Bronze Floor Lamp with Paw Feet
Located in Stamford, CT
Beautifully cast Italian neoclassical style bronze floor lamp modeled after an original excavated at Pompeii or Herculaneum. With acanthus leaf decoration above and below the reeded ...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Lighting
Materials
Bronze
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 Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Antique French Giltwood Figural Cathedral Floor Lamps, a Pair
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique French giltwood figural Cathedral floor lamps - a pair.
Category
19th Century French Antique Grand Tour Lighting
Materials
Marble
Pair of Grand Tour Bronze Urn Table Lamps
Located in New York, NY
A pair of Grand Tour-period bronze urns that have been mounted as lamps. The bronze urn adorned with low-relief images of classical figures and foliate designs. The bases made of squ...
Category
Early 1800s Antique Grand Tour Lighting
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Old Paris, Grand Tour Greek Exekias Style Vase Now as a Lamp
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Old Paris, Grand Tour Greek Exekias style vase now as a Lamp
Painted in the style Exekias , circa 540-530 BC, with a pale yellow background and black figures
Measures: 24" high to ...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Grand Tour Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Italian Grand Tour Style Patinated Bronze Lamp
Located in Bradenton, FL
An Italian Grand Tour style patinated metal vessel now mounted as an ancient looking lamp. Paw feet supporting three columns with lion head tops with rings in their mouths. The cente...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Grand Tour Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Italian Grand Tour Etruscan Floor Lamp
Located in Essex, MA
Not currently fitted for electricity but can be. Just needs wiring which can be done .
Category
1880s Italian Antique Grand Tour Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Theodore Alexander Bronze & Marble Column Lamp
Located in Savannah, GA
A Theodore Alexander grand tour style bronze and marble column lamp.
5 inches wide by 5 inches deep by 33 ½ inches tall; 20 ¾ inches tall to...
Category
Late 20th Century Grand Tour Lighting
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Antique Grand Tour French Bronze Bust Trojan Greek General Ajax Table Lamp
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Grand Tour French Bronze Bust Trojan Greek General Ajax Table Lamp. Item features a stately patinated bronze bust depicting the famous Greek war general Ajax with some of the...
Category
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Grand Tour Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Murano 12 Arm Chandelier in Gold and Ruby Red
Located in Charleston, SC
An absolute stunning 12 arm chandelier in murano glass. The glass on the arms is a clear with gold flecks and beautiful red details. The body of the chandelier is gold. The cur...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Grand Tour Lighting
Materials
Murano Glass
19th Century Grand Tour Greco-Roman Oil Lamp Form Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
Antique (late 19th century) continental Grand Tour style patinated and gilt bronze chandelier in the form of a Greek or Roman oil lamp depicting the figure of the Greek god, Helios, ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Grand Tour Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Pair Of French 19th Century Grand Tour Period Bronze, Ormolu, And Marble Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome pair of French 19th century Renaissance st. Grand Tour Period patinated Bronze, Ormolu and black Belgian marble lamps possibly by F. Barbedienne. Each lamp is raised on an...
Category
19th Century French Antique Grand Tour Lighting
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Bronze and Gilt Warwick Vase Lamp on Portoro Marble Basis, by Barbadienne, 1860
Located in Rome, IT
Large gilted bronze 'Warwick' vase lamp by Barbedienne, Paris circa 1860 mounted on a portoro marble pedestal.
fine and original patina
led lamp 4w 230V
measures: 35 X 23 cm, Hei...
Category
1860s French Antique Grand Tour Lighting
Materials
Carrara Marble, Bronze
Grand Tour Style Bronze and Marble Column Floor Lamp, after the Roman Model
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Grand Tour style bronze and marble column floor lamp, after the Roman model, finely cast twisted column raised on a paw footed 15" diameter t...
Category
20th Century Italian Grand Tour Lighting
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Large Italian Style Patinated Bronze Lamp
Located in Bradenton, FL
Large Italian style patinated metal vessel now mounted as an ancient looking lamp. Paw feet supporting three columns with lion head tops with rings in their mouths. The center in the...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Grand Tour Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Grand Tour Style Sienna Marble Model Temple of Castor & Pollux, Now as a Lamp
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Grand Tour Style Sienna Marble Model Temple of Castor & Pollux, Now as a Lamp
Italy, Circa 1950s
A magnificent Grand Tour Style Sienna Marble Model of the Temple of Castor and Pollu...
Category
20th Century Italian Grand Tour Lighting
Materials
Marble, Siena Marble, Brass
19th Century, French Grand Tour "4 Seasons" Bronze & Sienna Marble Urn Lamps
Located in Atlanta, GA
French, 19th century.
A pair of good quality bronze urns decorated with playful cherub or putti. The putti figures each represent one of the four season graces after the original my...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Grand Tour Lighting
Materials
Siena Marble, Bronze
A Large Italian Simulated Marble Table Lamp
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
A Large Italian Simulated Marble Table Lamp
The lamp has a large baluster ceramic bowl which is decorated as simulated Italian marble detailed with Gold leaves, it has its own shad...
Category
Mid-20th Century Grand Tour Lighting
Materials
Ceramic
19th Century 1860 French Antique Neoclassical Brass Lantern
Located in New York, NY
Superb quality French lantern in heavy cast bronze, whole handmade, rare piece with very fine details of chasing and decoration with architectural elements. Eight textured glass arch...
Category
19th Century French Antique Grand Tour Lighting
Materials
Bronze
A Stunning Pair of Grand Tour Style Alabaster Table Lamps, Early 20th Century
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
An extremely handsome pair of highly figured alabaster accent / table lamps. Both translucent, vasi-form bodies retaining their original fitted lids, raised overall upon turned socle...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Grand Tour Lighting
Materials
Alabaster
1940s Italian Neoclassical Wrought Iron Applique 3 Light Wall Sconce
Located in Miami, FL
Wrought iron three-light applique, wall sconce from Italy.
Wired for the U.S. prior shipping and uses each a max. 40 watts light bulb.
In good used condition with normal signs of wea...
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Grand Tour Lighting
Materials
Wrought Iron
Etruscan Revival Bronze Floor Lamp
Located in Essex, MA
Nicely cast with paw feet.
Category
Late 19th Century European Antique Grand Tour Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Grand Tour Style Neolcassical Bronze Table Lamp
Located in Astoria, NY
Grand Tour style heavy bronze table lamp, column shaped on pedestal with lyre motif, atop a marble base on ornamental lions feet. 44.5" H x 8" W x 8" D.
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Grand Tour Lighting
Materials
Marble, Bronze
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 Lighting
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Large Pair of Antique Grand Tour Period Multi-Marble Columns Mounted as Lamps
Located in New York, NY
A Large Pair of Antique Italian Grand Tour Period Multi-Marble Columns Turned to Lamps. These are truly beautiful in quality, size, condition, and material. Each is expertly hand-car...
Category
1840s Italian Antique Grand Tour Lighting
Materials
Carrara Marble, Breccia Marble, Marble
Pair Of French 19th Century Grand Tour Period Bronze And Marble Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome pair of French 19th century Greek Revival st. Grand Tour Period Patinated Bronze, Ormolu and black Belgian marble lamps, possibly by Barbedienne. The pair of lamps are rai...
Category
19th Century French Antique Grand Tour Lighting
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
air Of French 19th Century Grand Tour Period Bronze Lamps, Signed Barbedienne
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome pair of French 19th century Néo-Grec st. Grand Tour Period patinated Bronze lamps, signed Barbedienne. The pair of original oil lamps are raised on circular socle shaped bases below the stunning and high quality busts of the goddess Athena. Each oil lamp displays wonderful and richly chased classical scenes of female figures playing instruments and weaving while dressed in elegant flowing fabrics. Above is a mottled top cap below our signature Cedric DuPont...
Category
19th Century French Antique Grand Tour Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Grand Tour lighting for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Grand Tour lighting for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage lighting created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include lighting, decorative objects, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Grand Tour lighting 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 lighting, popular names associated with this style include Achille Collas, Ferdinand Barbedienne, and David Linley. 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 lighting differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $325 and tops out at $15,800 while the average work can sell for $2,764.