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.
Antique Scottish Hardstone and Gilt Brass Oval Snuff Box C. 1880
Located in Atlanta, GA
A fine antique Scottish oval snuff or trinket box, formed with a gilt brass mount and inset polished hardstone panels. The lid is arranged in a distinctive checkerboard specimen patt...
Agate, Multi-gemstone, Brass
Italian Grand Tour Style, Pietra Dura & Leather Humidor Or Vanity Box
Located in Atlanta, GA
This exceptional humidor or vanity box is a masterwork of craftsmanship, designed in the exquisite style of the Italian Grand Tour, a period of cultural exploration and refinement th...
Agate, Malachite, Onyx, Marble, Slate
Antique Chased Silver Snuff Box Set with Fine Italian Micromosaic Plaque
Located in London, GB
The small rectangular silver snuff box, chased with foliage decorations and featuring a hinged back, is set with a detailed micromosaic plaque on top. The plaque depicts a rural land...
Stone, Silver
Antique William IV Sterling Silver Table Snuff Box
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique William IV English sterling silver table snuff box; an addition to our collectable silverware collection. This exceptional antique William IV sterling silver snuff box has a rectangular, rounded form. The body of the box is embellished with impressive chased floral motifs accented with scrolling stem and foliate ornamentation, all on a matte background. The decoration to the body incorporates a chased single leaf design to each corner, emanating from the rounded lower portion. The upper rim of the body and swept sides of the cover are encompassed with a continuous band of engine turned decoration. The underside of the box features a further panel of engine turned decoration. This exceptional example of antique silverware is fitted with a hinged hallmarked cover embellished with an engine turned bordered rectangular vacant cartouche to the upper plateau. The cover is further embellished with an exceptional cast and applied domed, incurved border to the upper portion, matching the ornamentation to that of the body and continuing to an impressive floral thumbpiece to the anterior edge. This antique sterling silver snuff box opens to reveal the original gilded interior. Condition This antique sterling silver snuff box is an exceptional gauge of silver, exceptional quality and in exceptional condition. The chased and applied ornamentation is all very sharp and the engine turned decoration is all very crisp. Full hallmarks struck to the interior of the box are all very clear. Reflections in photographs may detract from the true representation of this antique silverware. Dimensions Length 9.8cm/3.9" Width 6.5cm/2.6" Height 4.3cm/1.7" Weight 8.2 troy ounces/253g Maker: Joseph Willmore...
Silver, Sterling Silver
$960Sale Price|20% Off
H 1.5 in W 2.5 in D 1.7 in
Fine Antique English South Staffordshire or Battersea Enamel Snuff Box
Located in Lambertville, NJ
An excellent quality late 18th or early 19th century Battersea enamel snuff or patch box. The pink enamel background with white enamel lattice and a raised gold around the hand paint...
Bronze, Enamel
Antique French Sèvres Style Painted Porcelain and Gilt Brass Box
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique French Sèvres Style Painted Porcelain and Gilt Brass Box Antique Jewelry box crafted in the style of Sevres, France circa 1870s. Porcelain bombe casket with cobalt blue and ...
Porcelain
Italian Gold-Mounted Micromosaic Snuff Box
Located in New York, NY
Italian micro mosaic plaque mounted within snuff box, depicting white and brown hound seated on grass. Circle of Giacomo Raffaelli (1753-1836). R...
Glass
Antique Baccarat Oval Crystal and Gilt Brass Dresser Box with Key
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Antique French Baccarat crystal jewelry casket box featuring neoclassical cut crystal and heavy gilt ormolu mounts. This piece is also consi...
Crystal
Italian Pietra Dura and Alabaster Inlay Hexagonal Box, Early 20th Century
Located in Grythyttan, SE
An Exceptional Italian Grand Tour Pietra Dura and Alabaster Hexagonal Box, Circa 1900. This exquisite hexagonal lidded box is a premier example of turn-of-the-century Italian stone ...
Alabaster
$425
H 1.25 in W 4 in D 2 in
Antique Continental Silver Plate Green Jade Keepsake Trinket Snuff Box 4"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique continental silver plate green jade keepsake / trinket / snuff box or casket featuring stone top and engraved leaf base. Dimensions: 4" x 3" x 1.25" (W x D x H)
Jade, Silver Plate
$74,260
H 8.75 in W 13.25 in D 8.5 in
Highly Important and Rare 17th Century Italian Pietra Dura Hardstone Inlaid Box
Located in New York, NY
A Highly Important, Early, and Quite Rare 17th Century Italian Pietra Dura Hardstone Inlaid Box, Most Probably from the Grand Ducal Workshop. This rectangular Italian casket...
Stone
$1,050Sale Price|30% Off
H 6 in W 10.25 in D 7 in
Antique Victorian Oak Grand Tour Box Neoclassical Inlay Greek Key Vanity Drawer
Located in Dayton, OH
This antique oak box features an intricate Grand Tour style design heavily inspired by Neoclassical and ancient Greek motifs. While the exterior lid showcases a striking burl wood ve...
Oak
Antique Silver Snuff Box, Italian Craftsmanship, Early 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
A superb rectangular silver snuff box, masterfully crafted in in the early 20th century, featuring exquisitely chased and repoussé decoration. The hinged lid is richly adorned with s...
Silver
$700
H 1.5 in W 3.38 in D 2.25 in
Mughal Style Pietra Dura Marble Box with Stone Inlay - India - Late 20th Century
Located in Chatham, ON
Mughal style pietra dura marble box - hand made - featuring an over-all floral and vine design with lapis lazuli, mother-of-pearl and black onyx inlay - signed on the base and the li...
Lapis Lazuli, Onyx, Marble
Amazonite Italian Hardstone Box
Located in Litchfield, CT
This fabulous Italian hardstone box is a sleek, colorful example of seventies decorative objects, Amazonite, Italy, circa 1970s. The Amazonite used in th...
Malachite
Antique Grand Tour Pietra Dura Specimen Paperweight 19th C
Located in London, GB
This is a superb decorative antique Italian Grand Tour marble Pietra Dura mounted desk paperweight, circa 1880 in date. This splendid rectangular paperweight is exquisitely inlai...
Agate, Amethyst, Malachite, Onyx, Marble
Anglo-Raj Marble Inlay Box Pietra Dura Made in India
Located in Fort Washington, MD
Anglo Raj inlaid marble pietra dura decorative box This handmade marble decorative box is inlaid with semi precious stones, this type of design is the same art that you see in the Taj Mahal. Very nice fine pietra dura art...
Marble
Scottish Horn Snuff Mull
Located in Essex, MA
Unusually large, inlaid with crystal, amber and silver. Engraved with thistles, inside cover carved 1741, Wilm. Ruthven, WH. Provenance; Fountain Walker collection.
Other
Sold
H 1.25 in W 4.5 in D 5.5 in
Grand Tour Porphyry, Yellow and White Marble Paperweight, Italian, late 19th C.
Located in Spencertown, NY
The oval shaped paperweight with carved alabaster profile of Roman Emperor, framed with imperial porphyry and yellow “marmo giallo” on white marble base.
Alabaster, Marble, Porphyry
Sold
H 0.99 in W 3.55 in D 2.76 in
Antique Silver Gilt Mounted Italian Hunting Scene Micromosaic Snuff Box
Located in London, GB
This antique Italian snuff box features a fine, micromosaic panel and silver gilt mounts. The micromosaic panel is set to the top of the box within a r...
Marble, Silver