Early 19th Century Grand Tour Framed Pulvinated Micromosaic of the Colosseum

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...

A fine and rare !9th Century hand carved antique treen bootjack, to remove riding boots, in the unusual form of a pistol. This is a rare find and unfolds to form a bootjack with be...

A French silvered-bronze athénienne by Ferdinand Barbedienne, Paris, last quarter 19th century with a revolving liner, the frieze applied with bucrania suspending ribbon-tied berried laurel swags above a border of bellflowers on a stippled ground above three seated female sphinxes issuing stylised foliage and scrolls on lion monopodia cast with the mask of Hercules, scrolling foliage and anthemions joined by stretchers, raised on a concave-sided triform marble base on a further thin silvered-bronze base, inscribed to the tripod base 'F. BARBEDIENNE' Measures: 103.3cm. high, 41.5cm. diameter; 3ft. 4 3/8 in, 1ft. 4 1/4. This impressive athénienne is a key reminder of the longevity of a particular model and design’s success from Antiquity through to the 19th century and up until this day. Typically known as the ‘Trépied du Temple d’Isis’, this athénienne is designed after the Roman antique originally found at Pompeii and now at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Naples (fig.1). From being for example an inspiration for the baptismal font of Napoléon’s son in 1811, this model was the inspiration to many highly skilled makers throughout the 19thcentury such as the Manfredini brothers from Milan and of course the Parisian well-established bronze founder Ferdinand Barbedienne who executed the present example. The Temple of Isis was a Roman temple dedicated to the Egyptian goddess Isis and was among one of the first discoveries during the excavation of Pompeii in 1764. Certainly considered as one of the most elegant examples of antique tripods, the existence of this model was then popularized to the rest of Europe via prints, one of the first being by Giovanni Battista Piranesi in 1779. This type of tripod was also popularised by an engraving in C. Percier and P. Fontaine’s, Receuil de Décorations Intérieures of 1801. Interestingly, there is also a watercolour now in the Musée Carnavalet, Paris, showing this type of tripod displayed at the 1801 Exposition des Produits de L’Industrie in the Louvre. The passion for Greek and Roman Art in the 19th century. The discovery of Pompeii and Herculaneum around the middle of the 18th century gave rise to a new passion for Antiquity and the excavated masterpieces renewed the repertoire of fine and decorative arts and served as models for Neoclassicism. Members of the aristocracy as well as connoisseurs, particularly in England, completed their education by undertaking a ‘Grand Tour’ of Italy and often fell victim to the recently unearthed Greek and Roman artefacts...

A Fine Pair of Twin Handled George III Grand Tour Influenced Silver-Gilt Salts of Bath Form by William Fountain, London 1808. Each lined in gilt and finely tooled with leaf clasp ...

The base is attributed to Gillows, England circa 1820 and the top, Italy, circa 1820. With its characteristically figured mahogany frieze, carved to the base and handsome design, t...

A charming 19th Century portrait of a prize cow - “Forest Bell”. A 19th century portrait of a prize winning cow in a landscape setting - “Forest Bell” attributed to A M Gauci. A pl...

Fantastic large scale 19th century Grand Tour image of the Roman Colosseum in the original oak frame, with the original glass! At over 5.5 feet wide this is an impressive piece. Quite rare to find one this large still intact. The image was so large it had to be created from three equal sections which meld beautifully into one oversized picture of this timeless landmark, symbol of ancient Rome. It brings the viewer right there, in all it's faded glory...

Wonderful mounted and framed 19th century Italian Grand Tour set of silvered bronze portrait medallions of The 12 Roman Emperors surrounding 3 larger medals, one showing the Battle o...

19th century oak hand carved framed armorial from England. The central design is of a shield with two wheat shafts, flanked by decorative scrolls, and topped with a regal standing li...

Excellent set of six profile portraits in bas-relief with bronze cameo as a souvenir from the Italian 'Grand Tour' of the late 18th century of Greek and Roman personalities, those re...

A large-scale photogravure of The Forum in Rome, in original faux grain painted frame. Showing the impressive ruins of the Temple of Saturn in cent...

Presenting an exceptional pair of early 19th-century Spanish military shoulder epaulettes, a testament to the artistry and opulence of the era. Crafted from meticulously tooled gold...