Grand Tour Furniture
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.
Style: Grand Tour
Color: Black
Pair of Large Cast Iron Garden Urns with Rams and Putti
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Pair of Large Cast Iron Garden Urns with Rams and Putti
Beautifully Weathered Large Urns, each decorated with 2 cherubs and 2 Rams heads
The Urns are slightly rusty but otherwise t...
Category
1920s Vintage Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Iron
Antique Set of 3 Framed Grand Tour Giovanni Liberotti Intaglios 19th Century
Located in London, GB
An elegant set of three framed intaglios, enclosing eighteen plaster Grand Tour Giovanni Liberotti intaglios dating from the e...
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Other
Pair of Black Marble and Bronze Obelisks "Gold Lizard", Limited Edition, 2017
Located in Rome, IT
pair of italian marble and bronze obelisks " GOLD LIZARD" -grand tour collection- produced by Lorenzo Ciompi, 2017
designed, produced and executed directly in exclusivity for COMPEN...
Category
2010s Italian Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Belgian Black Marble, Bronze
Timeless Wisdom: 19th Century Greek Owl Urns with Crowned Horse Heads
Located in New York, NY
Exquisite pair of 19th Century Copper and Bronze Greek Urns/Vases, reminiscent of the Hellenistic era, adorned with timeless symbols of wisdom and strength. Proudly displayed on each vessel is the revered owl of Athena, a symbol of wisdom and knowledge, standing watch...
Category
19th Century French Antique Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Brass, Copper
A Roman Micromosaic Plaque Depicting a Basket of Flowers
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Roman Micromosaic Plaque Depicting a Basket of Flowers.
Inscribed verso 'From The Townshend Colln.', 'Poe 200, Florentine Mosaic',
16.5 x 18 cm, the plaque
18.5 x 20 cm, overall...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Belgian Black Marble
Pair of Large Neoclassical Urns
Located in New York, NY
Pair of large neoclassical urns. Grand tour patinated copper craters after the antique with swan-form handles from Naples. Italy, early 19th century.
Dimension: 24.5" H x 15" D X 1...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Copper
Falcon's Eye Semi Precious Stone Box with Hinged Lid
Located in New York, NY
Falcon's Eye semi precious stone box with hinged lid.
Falcon's eye, AKA Blue Tiger's Eye, famed for its chatoyancy, is reminiscent of the 'eye...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Stone, Brass
Handpainted Ikat Black Flower Iron Tray
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
The magic of the Ikat world reproduced by hand on this tray
The details of the colors will enlighten your table.
Each piece is unique and created by talented artisans.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Iron
Bronze Sculpture of Atalanta by the F. Barbedienne Foundry
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This beautiful 19th century grand-tour piece of the goddess Atalanta was created by the Ferdinand Barbedienne foundry in Italy. The piece is hallmarked with F. Bernedienne Fondeur on...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Antique Grand Tour 'King Charles Spaniel' Micro Mosaic Plaque, Italy, C.1850
Located in Chatham, ON
Antique Grand Tour 'King Charles Cavalier Spaniel' micro mosaic plaque - hand made to the finest quality with great detail - may be framed or mount...
Category
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Glass
Labradorite Semi Precious Stone Box with Hinged Lid
Located in New York, NY
Labradorite semiprecious stone box with hinged lid. Labradorite displays an iridescent optical effect (or schiller) known as labradorescence. La...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Stone, Brass
19th Century Grand Tour Micro Mosaic Tablet Depicting Italian Architecture
Located in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
A fine mid-19th century serpentine grand tour micro mosaic tablet or paperweight of the iconic St Peter's Vatican, The Colosseum of Rome, The Pantheon, The Ruins of The Roman Forum a...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Belgian Black 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 Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Large 19th Century Italian Grand Tour Black Marble Nero Antico Obelisks
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
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...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Marble
Grand Tour Specimen Marbles Plaque, Italy, circa 1850
Located in Kinderhook, NY
Italian Grand Tour marble specimen plaque in original silver-giltwood frame consisting of 20 different rare and ancient marbles, including Porphyry and Jasper, inlaid into a black an...
Category
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Marble
Grand Tour Bronze Sculpture of Spinario the Thorn Picker
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A grand tour bronze sculpture of Spinario.
Measures: Height: circa 8 1/4 in.
Items purchased from David Sterner Antiques must delight you....
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Bronze
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 Furniture
Materials
Silver Plate
Pair of 19th Century Italian Grand Tour Inlaid Black Marble Tazza
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of 19th century Italian Grand Tour inlaid black marble Tazza, each one of typical form with a 6-Inch diameter roundel, raised on an inlaid ros...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Belgian Black Marble
A Fine & Large 19th Century Grand Tour Serpentine Marble Socle, Italy Circa 1800
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
An impressively large mottled 'verde prato' serpentine socle of turned columnar form, rising from a stepped base to a flattened plateau above a cavetto-shaped edge. In relation to it...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Marble, Serpentine
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 Furniture
Materials
Wrought Iron
Églomisé Verdigris Marble Table Box
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Églomisé Verdigris marble table box, with bevelled edges and 9" x 6" x 2" velvet interior.
Category
Late 20th Century Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Velvet, Glass
19th C Grand Tour Roman Style Iron Gorget on Stand
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
19th c Grand Tour Roman style iron gorget on stand
Decorated with a intense battle scene with Imperial Roman soldiers fighting native warriors, with tw...
Category
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Iron, Wrought Iron
English "Grand Tour" Derbyshire Specimen Marble Plaque Paperweights, circa 1850
Located in Kinderhook, NY
A collection of three 'Grand Tour' English / Italian polychrome marble plaques or paperweights, one rectangular; two of cartouche form, the 'Derbyshire' or 'Belgian Black' marble slabs inset with native English stones 'Blue John' (Derbyshire Spar), 'Duke's Red', 'Bird's-Eye', and foreign Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, and Jasper in 'ovoid' and 'kidney' form inlays.
Measurements :
Rectangular plaque: 8" by 4.63" by .88"
Cartouche plaque...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Marble
Continental Grand Tour Marble Tazza
Located in New York, US
Our large neoclassical tazza carved from variegated charcoal colored marble with red and grey dates from the nineteenth century.
Provenance: Jay Waldmann, Waldmann Inc., Southampt...
Category
Late 18th Century European Antique Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Marble
Grand Tour Serpentine Inkwell and Cover Inset with 7 Lava Stone Cameos, 19th C
Located in Spencertown, NY
The 7 cameos of historical figures, fitted with 3 quill holders, 2 inkwells and a pounce pot. The underside of the lid is framed with a circular gouache dep...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Serpentine
Pair of Monumental Marble Obelisks, White #2
Located in Berlin, DE
Extremely rare and decorative obelisk pair. Various types of marble an absolute rarity and a guaranteed eye-catcher in every interior. Measures: 73.2 inch.
(U-Hud-2).
Category
20th Century Italian Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Marble
Mid 18th Century Micromosaic Plaque
Located in London, GB
A fine quality mid 19th century oval Micro-mosaic Plaque depicting St Peter’s Square Rome, enclosed in unusual black slate marble frame decorated with shells, scrolls & wolves.
Category
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Marble
French Grand Tour Borghese Gladiator in Cast Metal
Located in New York, NY
Monumental French late 19th century Grand Tour heavy cast metal sculpture of the Borghese Gladiator. The piece depicts a swordsman during fight and is a cast reproduction of the fame...
Category
1880s French Antique Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Metal
Antique Italian Green Marble and 'Lava Cameo' Inkstand
Located in London, GB
Antique Italian green marble and 'lava cameo' inkstand
Italian, 19th century
Measures: Height 10cm, diameter 14cm
This charming inkstand is crafted from green marble and gilt metal....
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Marble, Metal
19th Century French Egyptian Revival Slate and Gilt Obelisk
Located in Stamford, CT
19th century Grand Tour Egyptian Revival carved and polished black slate obelisk, the front decorated with very fine incised hieroglyphic designs which have been accented with gold l...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Slate
Large Labradorite Specimen
Located in New York, NY
Large polished labradorite specimen. Labradorite displays an iridescent optical effect (or schiller) known as labradorescence. Labradorite is also...
Category
2010s Australian Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Stone
19th Century Micromosaic Table Top with Views of Rome from the Grand Tour
Located in London, GB
A grand tour circular table top
Possibly by Domenico Moglia
The circular platform of marmore nero, inset with fine micromosaic panels consisting of hundreds of coloured glass tesserae; a central flower bouquet sit within a malachite border surrounded by a border including four cartouches in conforming malachite reserves representing Roman views including the Arch of Titus, the Temple of Vesta, the Capitoline Hill, and the Tomb of Cecilia Metella, connected by floral garlands.
Italy, circa 1855
Domenico Moglia (1780 - 1862)
Brothers, Luigi and Domenico Moglia, are celebrated as two of the few great mosaicists of the 19th century. Both are recorded as exhibiting at the 1851 Great Exhibition, London. Domenico's work included micromosaics plaques depicting views of 'the roman forum', 'the colosseum', and the 'temples of Paestum.'
The Lombardi Museum contains a collection of architectural...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Malachite, Marble
19th Century Pair of Polished Marmo Marble Sphere Paperweights
Located in Shippensburg, PA
PAIR OF GRAND TOUR POLISHED MARMO AFRICANO MARBLE SPHERES
Circa early 19th century over shaped rock plinth
Item # C104033
A gorgeous pair of 19th century decorative marmo marble sp...
Category
19th Century Unknown Antique Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Stone, Marble
20th Century Grand Tour Pair of Italian Figurative Pen-Holders Desk Accessories
Located in Milan, IT
A set of two lovely Grand Tour hand-painted terracotta figurative pen-holders of Neapolitan origin, molded as a male and female foreign tourists caricatures, British characters.
Bot...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Terracotta
Pair of Serpentine Grand Tour Lions
Located in Cheshire, GB
Pair of serpentine Grand Tour lions.
Category
19th Century Unknown Antique Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Serpentine
Pair of Antique Roman Porphyry, Grand Tour Period Hand-Carved Lidded Vases
Located in New York, NY
A very fine pair of antique roman porphyry, Grand Tour period hand carved lidded vases. These are a fabulous and quite decorative pair of porphyry lidde...
Category
1830s Italian Antique Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Porphyry
Hand Painted Ikat Turquoise Flower Iron Tray
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
The magic of the Ikat world reproduced by hand on this tray
The details of the colors will enlighten your table.
Each piece is unique and created by talented artisans.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Iron
Pair of Red-Figure Black-Ground Vases, 1810-1850, Italy, Terracotta, Grand Tour
Located in Epfach, DE
Pair of red-figure black-ground vases, 1810-1850, Italy, Terracotta, Grand Tour
Pair of red-figure black-ground vases circa 1810-1850 from Italy probably Naples or Sicilia.
One v...
Category
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Terracotta
Grand Tour Inlaid Marble Specimen Paperweight, Early 20th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
The center made up of blue marble veneers, yellow marble and green marble with each section banded by Carrara marble.
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Marble
French 19th Century Neoclassical Black Marble Baluster Vase
Located in Berlin, DE
French 19th century neoclassical black marble baluster vase
Impressive neoclassical tall baluster-shaped vase made of polished black marble, showin...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Belgian Black Marble
Pair of Terracotta Lions, after Canova, 19th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
The pair of recumbent lions facing towards each other.
Category
19th Century English Antique Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Terracotta
Alexandra Specimen Marble
Located in Sturminster Marshall, Dorset
The Alexandra.
A circular specimen marble inlaid top with radiating specimen inlays bordered with an inlaid Greek key. This top can be made to any s...
Category
2010s English Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Marble
A Carved Breccia Marble Tazza, Italian, 19th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
The Tazza with a raised floral carving in the center of the cup with gadrooned decoration around the cup with tapering stem and half fluting. Ending in small square base. Minute chip...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Marble
Bankes Obelisk, England, Ashford Black Marble, First Half of the 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
So-called Bankes obelisk made of black marble ("Ashford Black"), after the obelisk of Philae, which William John Bankes acquired shortly afterwards after...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Marble
Antonius Specimen Marble Top
Located in Sturminster Marshall, Dorset
A circular specimen marble inlaid top with inlaid radiating centre and geometric designed outer border. Priced as size quoted below but can be made and quoted for separately to your ...
Category
2010s English Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Marble
Grand Tour Marble Sculpture of the Melossian Hound
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This stylish and handsome piece dates to the "Grand Tour" period of Europe and is titled the "Melossian Hound" of ancient Greece, Albania, and is carve...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Marble
Pair of Neoclassical Table Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This stylish set of tables lamps were recently acquired from a Palm Beach estate and were originally vases produced during the "Grand Tour" of Europe and at some point have been moun...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Brass
Painting of Travellers at Tivoli Falls Outside Rome After Claude Joseph Vernet
By Claude-Joseph Vernet
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A museum worthy large painting depicting travellers before the falls of Tivoli outside of Rome, with the Temple of Vesta in the background, after the 18thC French artist Claude Joseph Vernet...
Category
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Canvas
Grand Tour Neapolitan Tripod Oil Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Grand Tour Neapolitan Tripod Oil Lamp. Bronze patinated metal oil lamp of tripod form with lion head masks with rings, supported by lion monopedia on ball terminals on conforming bas...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Italian Micromosaic and Specimen Marble Occasional Table
Located in Essex, MA
Circular top now cemented in a wrought iron base with scrolled legs. Top with central view of the Coliseum and surrounded by various hardstones including porphyry.
Category
1860s Italian Antique Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Marble
A Fine Early 19th C. Grand Tour Portrait by Friedrich Moosbrugger, Dated 1827
By Friedrich Moosbrugger
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A finely executed & extremely charming 19th century portrait of young Italian woman, probably that of Vittoria Caldoni.
Vittoria Caldoni was an Italian woman from Albano most favoured as a sitter by several of the German artists working in Italy at this time.
Oil on canvas, signed and dated 1827 bottom right, re-lined and set within a carved and ebonized frame.
Canvas dimensions, 23.75” H x 18” W. Framed dimensions, 27.25" high x 21.75" wide x 2" deep.
Artist Bio: Friedrich Moosbrugger (1804 - 1830) was a German genre...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Wood, Canvas
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 Furniture
Materials
Marble
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 Furniture
Materials
Griotte Marble, Slate, Bronze
Early 19th Century Belgium Black and Rosso Antico Marble Tazza
Located in London, GB
With lobbed reeded body on waisted socle and stepped plinth base
Category
19th Century British Antique Grand Tour Furniture
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 Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
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 Furniture
Materials
Multi-gemstone, Marble
Grand Tour Bloodstone Marble Bouillotte Lamp
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Grand tour bloodstone marble Bouillotte lamp
The tole shade measures 13" depth x 6" height x 8.5" top
The height of the urn without the lamp fittings is 14 inches. The base has a 5...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Marble
Italian Dark Green Marble Pedestal
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This stylish Italian marble pedestal dates to the end of the 19th centutury and was acquired form a Palm Beach estate.
Note: There are five seperate pieces that make up the pedestal...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Furniture
Materials
Marble
Grand Tour furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Grand Tour furniture 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 furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, more furniture and collectibles, wall decorations and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, stone and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Grand Tour furniture 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 furniture, popular names associated with this style include Bertrando Di Renzo, Giustiniani, F. Barbedienne Foundry, and Ferdinand Barbedienne. 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 furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $45 and tops out at $365,566 while the average work can sell for $2,501.
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