Pair of Grand Tour Marble Obelisks Mantlepiece Ornaments

A large Grand Tour specimen marble column plinth, in green serpentine and Carrara marble on a gilt-bronze (ormolu) base. Italy, 19th century. Why we like it: Its impressive scale a...

A decorative pair of Grand Tour bronze-patinated urns of ancient Greek 'volute krater' form,  Italy, 19th century. Why we like them We love the decorative look of these urns, evoking the Grand Tour travels of the 19th century. Perfect for lamp conversion. Design This shape was introduced in the late 6th century B.C. and was favoured by significant artists who worked in terracotta and in bronze. The earliest example in bronze belongs to the late 5th century B.C. and was found in a tomb in Agrigento. A characteristic of volute-krater handles is the fine articulation of the volute itself and of the lower terminals where they rested on the shoulder of the vase. Here, as in most metal examples, they assume the form of swans' heads. A pair of handles of this design is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Chiurazzi, De Angelis and Sommer where the main Neapolitan foundries that catered for the needs and tastes of the grand-tourists throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. They produced a wide range of fine quality objects, often using the museum casts...

Two exquisite and rare etchings of ancient sculptures by Pierre Bouillon (1776-1831), from his book Musée des antiques, published in Paris between 1811-1827. The two plates, titled P...

Two exquisite and rare etchings of ancient sculptures by Pierre Bouillon (1776-1831), from his book Musée des antiques, published in Paris between 1811-1827. The two plates, titled G...

A pair of exquisite and rare etchings of ancient sculptures by Pierre Bouillon (1776-1831), from his book Musée des antiques, published in Paris between 1811-1827. The two plates, ti...

A charming Grand Tour style porcelain vase, matte black ground with polychrome decorations in ancient Greek style,  English, mid-19th century.

A pair of late 19th century Grand Tour Obelisks. The mouldings in Carara, the plint in Sienna, the plaque in Lapis Lazuli and the obelisks themselves in onyx.

The pair of obelisks with gilt lion faces on front base and gilt lion paws at corners, signed indistinctly. Rome dated 1893.

A very attractive pair of Italian Grand Tour black marble obelisks. Detailed hieroglyphics to the front side, on a green marble plinth. Minor corner chips to both obelisks, otherwise...

Typical form with different marbles.

A bronze cast of the Luxor Obelsik, one side a thermometer. This was a popular Grad Tour souvenir in the late 19th century. Mounted on a polished black slate base. 8.5 inches high by 3.5 by 3.5 The Luxor Obelisk...

A bronze cast of the Luxor Obelsik, with one side fitted for a thermometer. This was a popular Grad Tour souvenir in the late 19th century. Now missing the glass tube. 10.5 inches high 4 by 4 base The Luxor Obelisk...