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.
Pair of Italian Grand Tour–Style Green & Gilt Jasperware Intaglio Wall Plaques
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of Italian Grand Tour–Style Green & Gilt Jasperware Intaglio Wall Plaques, Circa 1960s This elegant pair of Italian Grand Tour–style wall plaq...
Pottery
19th Century Italian Grand Tour Set of Portrait Medals of The 12 Roman Emperors
Located in Stamford, CT
19th century Italian Grand Tour set of silvered bronze portrait medallions of The 12 Roman Emperors, Julius Caesar, Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius Nero, Galba, Otho, Vitelliu...
Bronze
Selection of 10 antique Grand Tour marquetry marbles, bronze, wood, Italy 1800.
Located in Milan, IT
A Sampler of antique Grand Tour marbles in the shape of a banner. A selection of 10 colored profiled marbles (Breccia Pernice, Lumachella, Porphyry, Giallo Antico, Bianco e Nero, Ala...
Marble, Lapis Lazuli, Bronze
Relief medallion in plaster
Located in 'S-HERTOGENBOSCH, NL
Relief medallion in plaster by Antonio Canova (1757-1822). The depiction of this relief is 'living from the land'. (It can be hang up)
Plaster
19th C. Italian Grand Tour Carved Marble Portrait Plaque of Caesar
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
19th Century Italian Grand Tour Carved Marble Portrait Plaque of Caesar Italy, Circa 1880s A fine example of 19th-century Italian Grand Tour, this masterwork carved marble portrai...
Marble, Steel
Selection of 10 antique Grand Tour marquetry marbles, bronze, wood Italy 1800.
Located in Milan, IT
A sampler of antique Grand Tour marbles in the shape of a banner. A selection of 10 colored profiled marbles (African, French Red, Clouded Alabaster, Old Red Macchia, Lapis Lazuli, S...
Lapis Lazuli, Marble, Bronze
Pair of Framed Neo-Classical Carved Wood Bas Relief Plaques
Located in Hanover, MA
Pair of decorative bas-relief wall plaques in carved wood suggestive of bronze and featuring figures reminiscent of Greco-Roman art, set within a silver leafed wood frame. From an o...
Wood
$4,360Sale Price|20% Off
STUNNING ANTiQUE MARBLE AFTER ALCIBIADES WITH THE COURTESANS - ROMAN INFLUENCE
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning antique marble relief plaque of Alcibiades wit...
Marble
Antique Italian Grand Tour Pietra Dura Marble Picture Cavalier Musketeer 1880
Located in Portland, OR
A fine antique Italian Pietra Dura Grand Tour marquetry stone picture panel, circa 1870. This very attractive plaque depicts a cavalier standing and taking a drink from a canteen, th...
Multi-gemstone, Marble, Gold Leaf, Silver Leaf
$10,800Sale Price|20% Off
Italian Marble Profile Plaque of Roman Emperor Ceasar Vespasianus, Late 18th C
Located in North Miami, FL
This finely Late 18th Century (Grand Tour Period) modeled portrait relief plaque of the Roman Emperor Caesar Vespasian (9-79 AD) is carved from...
Marble, Carrara Marble
19th Century Grand Tour Marble Scagliola Marble Table Top
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A 19th century grand tour marble Scagliola marble table-top depicting the second temple of Hera in Paestum. Dated to circa 1820, one can imagine this large scale piece collected on ...
Marble
Vintage Italian Scagliola Artisanal Pigmented Plaster Turtle Shell
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This striking vintage Italian scagliola turtle shell is an exceptional example of traditional craftsmanship. Using the centuries-old scagliola technique—a meticulous process of hand-...
Plaster
Ecclesiastical 19th Century White Statuary Marble Portrait Roundel
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A very finely worked antique white statuary marble roundel depicting a profile portrait of a Roman figure in religious dress. Originating from mid 19th century Italy, this large marb...
Marble, Statuary Marble
19th Century Grand Tour Micro Mosaic Tablet with Roman Views
Located in Kastrup, DK
19th century Micro Mosaic tablet with five oval panels with Roman views, approx. 1860-1880. Very fine tesserae and small briquettes of semi-precious stone...
Stone, Marble
Pair of 18th Century Italian Grand Tour Wall Hangings
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A pair of intricate 18th century Italian Grand Tour wall hangings depicting profile portrait busts of four famous Italian poets from history: Dante Alighieri (1265-1321), Francesco P...
Wood, Boxwood
Anthony Redmile Faux Marble Creature
Located in Hanover, MA
Cast in marble resin so heavy and cold to the touch, this beast hangs on a wall or peers up at you from a table surface.
Also a profile of a Roman young man ($495); Medi...
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...
Belgian Black Marble
Vintage Italian Scagliola Artisanal Pigmented Plaster Turtle Shell
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This striking vintage Italian scagliola turtle shell is a masterful example of traditional craftsmanship and neoclassical elegance. Created using the historic scagliola technique—a c...
Metal
Bronze Mounted Figure Sculpture Grand Tour Circa 1800 France
Located in Hudson, NY
Circa 1800 mounted bronze 3/4 profile. Likely French but possibly English. Carved wooden backing custom just for this particular item. In the original frame and retaining an old if n...
Bronze
Vintage Grand Tour Gladiator and Horse Fiberglass Relief
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A fantastic vintage Grand Tour fiberglass relief. A large molded gladiator medallion on a wrapped wood plinth. Large gilt rings on top. Acquired from...
Fiberglass, Wood
Antique Grand Tour Faux Book of Neoclassical Intaglios
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An antique Grand Tour faux book of Neoclassical plaster intaglios. Dating to the early 19th century, this intriguing book encloses twenty-five classically themed Italian medallions...
Plaster
Two Bronze Grand Tour Framed Roundels
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A pair of 19th century bronze Grand Tour framed roundels, one depicting Hercules battling the Nemean Lion and another similar plaque detailed with a classical youth pouring water for...
Porphyry, Metal, Bronze
Neoclassical French Plaster Wall Relief of Dionysus, Circa 1920-1940
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A large vintage rectangular wall relief in French Plaster, from the Parthenon to Neoclassical style, in good condition. Hand crafted bas-relief of the Parthenon temple, on the Athen...
Plaster
Vintage Wall Relief of Areopagus, Hand-Crafted Plaster, 20th Century
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A vintage wall fragment of the Areopagus, which in pre-classical times dates back to a selective council of elders for the city of Athens. The membership was favored to those who had...
Plaster
$1,000 / set
H 4.34 in W 7.88 in D 0.79 in
Antique Pair of Framed Grand Tour Wax Portrait Reliefs 19th Century
Located in London, GB
A pair of Continental wax portrait reliefs of Mr and Mrs Luke Foreman, early 19th century in date. Each set against a faux-finished ground with a gilt rolled-paper border, fitted wi...
Leather, Silk, Glass, Paper
$973Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 9.45 in W 7.88 in D 0.6 in
Grand Tour. Pair of Neoclassical style reliefs, Italy, 1950s
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Pair of Neoclassical and Grand Tour style reliefs depicting mythological scenes, Italy, 1950s. These medallions are made of molded bakelite, with a chrome-plated golden metal frame a...
Metal, Brass
Antique French Plaster Wall Sculpture/Relief "The Lion Slayer"
Located in Douglas Manor, NY
1859 Antique French Plaster wall relief depicting slaying of the lion
Plaster
Pair of Framed Neo-Classical Carved Wood Bas Relief Plaques
Located in Hanover, MA
Pair of decorative bas-relief wall plaques in carved wood suggestive of bronze and featuring figures reminiscent of Greco-Roman art, set within a silver leafed wood frame. From an o...
Wood
Pair of Vintage Lion Wall Plaques
Located in Hastings, GB
A wonderfully cast pair of vintage heraldic lions, beautifully detailed and of great size and scale. These were cast in Japan of aluminium, and each has an incredible bronzed gilt finish. Hanging hook to rear of each lion. Wear commensurate to the age of item. Priced as a pair. Pair of Vintage Lion Wall Plaques...
Aluminum
$1,048Sale Price|20% Off
H 9.45 in W 13.19 in D 1.38 in
Antique Classical Wall Frieze, Continental, Relief Plaque, Grand Tour, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique classical wall frieze. A Continental, silvered copper Grand Tour relief plaque in later frame, dating to the late Victorian perio...
Copper
Egyptian Goddess Plaster Relief
Located in Savannah, GA
A late period - Ptolemaic period plaster relief depicting a Goddess or Queen from the Metropolitan Museum of Art after the original. 4 ½ inches wide by 7 ¼ inches tall by 1 inch ...
Plaster
$1,495
H 7 in W 28 in D 1.5 in
Framed Group of Seven Italian Grand Tour Cast Plaster Intaglios, 19th Century
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Framed Group of Seven Italian Grand Tour Cast Plaster Intaglios, 19th Century This refined framed composition features a group of seven Italian Grand Tour intaglios, executed in cas...
Fabric, Plaster, Giltwood
Fine Late 18th Century Grand Tour Marble Tondo of Athena
Located in Pease pottage, West Sussex
A fine late 18th Century Grand Tour marble tondo of Athena. Italy Circa 1780.
Marble
Carved Giltwood Grand Tour Style Military Wall Trophy
Located in Nashville, TN
Presents very well with crisp and well defined carving . A Giltwood wall carved trophy. The banners tilt out , with center helmet and shield .Of military inspiration against back...
Giltwood
Sold
H 11.03 in W 9.85 in D 1.19 in
Set Six 19th Century Grand Tour Bronze Portraits Carved Marble Frame
Located in Madrid, ES
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 R...
Belgian Black Marble, Breccia Marble, Bronze
Anthony Redmile Profile Relief of Perseus
Located in Hanover, MA
Wall mounted profile in relief of Perseus in cast marble resin and fiberglass by Anthony Redmile (born 1940) of London circa 1990, after a bronze bas relief sculpture by Edmond Louis...
Resin, Fiberglass
Two Ancient Greek Carved Marble Plaques
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A pair of interesting ancient Greek style statuary marble relics or wall plaques, depicting a serpent and dove in relief. Thought to be of Greek or Italian origin, these antique wall plaques have an ancient look and feel, with wear and discolouration that offers a glimpse into their history. Perhaps they were once collector’s items, architectural fragments discovered by a traveller on their grand tour throughout Europe in the 18th to 19th century… We have conservatively estimated the date to circa 1800, these antique marble wall plaques...
Marble, Statuary Marble
Rare 19th Century Set of Three Large Grand Tour Oval Carrara Marble Plaques
Located in Dublin 8, IE
Rare 19th Century set of three unusually large Grand Tour oval Carrara marble plaques featuring relief profiles in bronze of Julius Caesar, Caesar Augustus and Hadrian. All three are...
Marble
Pair, Grand Tour Style Italian Bronzed Plaques Aldrovandi & Homer
Located in Atlanta, GA
Italian, late 19th century. A pair of Grand tour bronzed plaques depicting 1) Ulisse Aldrovandi (Italian, 1522-1602) was an Italian natura...
Bronze
20th Century Grand Tour Style Painted Terracotta Wall Plate
Located in Elkhart, IN
A stunning Grand Tour style hand painted terracotta wall plate featuring a mediterranean scene Circa mid-20th century Measures: 9.25"W x .5"D...
Terracotta
19th Century Ancient Golden Wooden Lion's Head Wall Sculpture
Located in Catania, Sicilia
19th Century, Ancient Golden wooden wall sculpture Depicting A Lion's Head. Object of good quality and ideal for artistic compositions or wall decoration.
Wood
Sold
H 1.25 in W 1.13 in D 0.25 in
Gilt Grand Tour Plaster Intaglio with Bust of a Woman, 19th Century
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A 19th-century Intaglio Tassie - A seal with the bust of a woman holding an olive branch. Thick gilt paper wrapped around the edge mimicking a frame. There are a few tiny faults in t...
Plaster
Sold
H 14.75 in W 10.25 in D 1.5 in
Pair of 19th Century Italian Grand Tour Intaglios in Burl Wood Frames
Located in Stamford, CT
A pair of framed collections Grand Tour Italian plaster intaglios, early 19th century. These are very fine examples, with minute details, all ...
Plaster
Sold
H 6 in W 7 in D 1 in
Early 19th Century Grand Tour Framed Pulvinated Micromosaic of the Colosseum
Located in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
A fine and rare early 19th century framed grand tour pulvinated micro mosaic of the iconic Colosseum of Rome, Italy, in a period frame. This is a most unusual micro mosaic as it i...
Belgian Black Marble