Grand Tour Breche Sanguine & Gilt Bronze Mounted Navicella

Exceptionally Rare 19th Century Carved Breche Sanguine & Gilt Bronze Mounted Navicella.
Italy, circa 1800-1820

Height: 28.5 cms (11.5 ins)
Width: 58 cms (23 ins)
Depth: 20 cms (7.7 ins)

This magnificent marble masterpiece is a work of art, a variation on the ancient antique sculpture of a Roman Galley, known as the Navicella. It is carved from one of the rarest and most beautiful stones in the World, Breche Sanguine, the colours are a delight to behold and evoke the hue of a volcanic lava flow. The prow of the Galley is decorated with a truly fierce and superbly animated carved Boar’s head. The lines throughout flow majestically mounted atop a Breche Sanguine & Belgium Black marble plinth, three sides with palatial gilded Bronze mounts, exquisitely cast, chased and richly gilded, each with an outer Laurel leaf wreath, quartered with flowers, with a concave centre with spiralling floral leaves. One side of the plinth bears the gilded  Latin inscription ‘’ SI VIS PACEM PARA BELLVM ’’, which translates as ‘’if you want peace prepare for war’’. It is in excellent condition for its age, use & handling.

The Fontana della Navicella ( Fountain of the Small Ship ) is a fountain built around a marble and travertine replica of an Ancient Roman sculpture, depicting a decorated Roman Galley and erected in front of the church of Santa Maria in Domnica of Rome, Italy. While the statue is a copy, commissioned by Pope Leo X ( 1475-1521 ) made between 1518-1519 by Andrea Sansovino, it is based on fragments discovered near the Church.

Breche Sanguine or Breccia Sanguine is a stunning and rare Marble found in the old Roman quarry in Sidi Benyebka, near Oran, Algeria. Fine panels can be seen in the Nave of Westminster Cathedral, London.

All in all, this is not merely a decorative piece, but an embodiment of art, history, and the allure of Rome’s grandeur that once captivated the visitors of the Grand Tour. It’s a true testament to the allure of one of the world’s most beautiful and rare marbles.