Treasures of the Grand Tour: Souvenirs of Elegance at Nicholas Wells Antiques

Treasures of the Grand Tour: Souvenirs of Elegance at Nicholas Wells Antiques

32 products
32 products

A Cultural Odyssey in Sculpture, Objects & Decorative Art

The Italian Grand Tour was more than a journey — it was a cultural odyssey, a formative experience for European aristocrats and intellectuals from the 17th to 19th centuries. Travellers to Rome, Florence, Venice, and Naples sought education through immersion in antiquity, bringing home carefully chosen souvenirs. These keepsakes were not mere trinkets, but symbols of sophistication, scholarship, and worldly prestige.

At Nicholas Wells Antiques, we celebrate this legacy with an exquisite collection of Grand Tour sculptures, objects, and furniture. Each piece is a tangible link to this golden age of travel and cultural enrichment, embodying neoclassical taste and intellectual curiosity.


Sculptures: Emblems of Antiquity

Sculpture was at the heart of the Grand Tour. Travellers returned with busts after the antique, bronze reductions of classical statues, and neoclassical marble works, often displayed in libraries and galleries as emblems of learning. These works were supplied by skilled Roman marchands-merciers and continue to capture the timeless allure of antiquity.

A Diverse Array of Souvenirs

The Grand Tour extended beyond sculpture. Collectors also brought home:

  • Furniture in the neoclassical style, often richly inlaid.

  • Jewellery and silverware inspired by classical motifs.

  • Specimen marble objects and table tops, showcasing stones from across the Italian peninsula.

  • Micromosaics and scagliola panels, reflecting the virtuosity of Italian decorative workshops.

Each piece in our collection reflects not only the artistry of its maker but also the discerning eye of the traveller who once selected it as a lifelong reminder of their odyssey.


Highlights of the Collection

  • Italian Neoclassical Carved Marble Vase – Rome, late 18th/early 19th century (£70,000).

  • Grand Tour Bust of Eros di Centocelle – Statuary marble on Siena plinth, circa 1800 (£55,000).

  • Ince & Mayhew George III Secretaire Breakfront Bookcase – English neoclassical furniture (£35,000).

  • Grand Tour Micromosaic Table attributed to Cesare Roccheggiani – A tour de force of mosaic artistry (£35,000).

  • Group of Three Scagliola Trompe l’Oeil Panels – Early 18th-century illusionistic panels (£30,000).

  • Grand Tour Breche Sanguine & Gilt Bronze Mounted Navicella – A rare marble galley sculpture (£28,000).

  • Bacchanalian Bronze Faun after Soldani – Italian bronze, circa 1800 (£18,000).

  • Bronze Bust of Lysimachus, after the Antique – Grand Tour souvenir of a Hellenistic ruler (£14,000).

  • Borghese Vase in Alabaster – Classical form with mythological motifs (£9,500).

  • Grand Tour Bust of Julius Caesar – Marble portrait, Rome, mid-19th century (£8,500).

  • Specimen Marble Table Top (Mallett Coffee Table) – Inset with 68 marbles (£7,500).

  • Giambologna “Cesarini Venus” Bronze – Classical revival, early 19th century (£5,800).

  • Micromosaic “Doves of Pliny” by Giacomo Raffaelli – Iconic Roman subject, circa 1800 (£4,500).

Prices range from £2,200 for smaller bronzes and busts to £70,000 for monumental neoclassical sculpture.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What defines a Grand Tour object?
Grand Tour objects are works of art, furniture, and decorative items purchased by European travellers (primarily English) during their journeys to Italy and beyond in the 18th and 19th centuries. They often replicate classical models and serve as markers of learning and refinement.

Were these works made in antiquity or as reproductions?
Most Grand Tour pieces were created in the 18th–19th centuries, inspired by classical antiquity. Some are direct copies of ancient masterpieces, while others are neoclassical creations in the style of antiquity.

What materials were popular among Grand Tour collectors?
Common materials include marble, bronze, alabaster, Blue John, scagliola, specimen marbles, micromosaic, gilt bronze, and ormolu. These materials were chosen for their durability, rarity, and classical association.

How were these pieces used in interiors?
Grand Tour souvenirs were displayed in libraries, drawing rooms, and galleries. A marble bust might preside over a desk, while a micromosaic table could serve as both functional furniture and a showpiece of Italian craftsmanship.

Do you sell furniture as well as sculpture?
Yes. Our Grand Tour section includes secretaire bookcases, console tables, specimen marble tables, and giltwood furnishings reflecting neoclassical design.

What is the price range?
From £2,200 for smaller bronzes and busts to £70,000+ for museum-level marble vases and neoclassical masterpieces.

Do you provide provenance and research?
Where possible, we provide scholarly attributions, provenance details, and stylistic notes. Many pieces are tied to important makers or collectors.

Do you offer international shipping?
Yes. All objects are handled by fine art shippers with full insurance and secure packing.


Explore Nicholas Wells Antiques’ Treasures of the Grand Tour – where souvenirs of antiquity and neoclassical refinement continue to inspire collectors and connoisseurs.

Italian neoclassical carved marble vase, Rome, late 18th century/early 19th century
Nicholas Wells Antiques
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Eros Di Centocelle marble bust on Siena marble plinth, antique style, Italian Grand Tour sculpture circa 1800.
Eros Di Centocelle marble bust with intricate curls on Siena marble plinth, Italian antique style from circa 1800.
Grand Tour Statuary Marble Bust of Eros di Centocelle
Collection CK40
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Ince and Mayhew George III Secretaire Breakfront Bookcase mahogany antique with glazed doors and multiple drawers
Ince and Mayhew George III Secretaire Breakfront Bookcase detailed marquetry corner on mahogany wood panel.
Ince and Mayhew George III Secretaire Breakfront Bookcase
Nicholas Wells Antiques
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Grand Tour Micro Mosaic Table Attributed to Cesare Roccheggiani featuring intricate 19th-century Italian micromosaic art.
Grand Tour Micro Mosaic Table Attributed to Cesare Roccheggiani with intricate 19th-century micromosaic and bronzed gilt decor
Grand Tour Micro Mosaic Table Attributed to Cesare Roccheggiani
Nicholas Wells Antiques
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A group of three early 18th century scagliola trompe l'oeil panels
Collection TH10
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Pair of early 19th century Empire bronze and Napoleonite Medici Borghese vases on orbicular diorite bases Collection EE20
Pair of early 19th century bronze Medici and Borghese vases on orbicular diorite bases by Collection EE20
Pair of Bronze and Napoleonite Medici / Borghese Vases
Collection EE20
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North Italian Rosewood secretaire with hardstone inlay attributed to Giovanni Battista Maroni sold by Nicholas Wells Antiques
North Italian secretaire with inlaid hardstone details by Giovanni Battista Maroni, offered by Nicholas Wells Antiques
North Italian Secretaire, Attributed to Giovanni Battista Maroni
Nicholas Wells Antiques
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Grand Tour Breche Sanguine & Gilt Bronze Mounted Navicella, rare 19th-century marble Roman galley sculpture with gilded mounts.
Grand Tour Breche Sanguine & Gilt Bronze Mounted Navicella, 19th century marble sculpture of Roman Galley on ornate plinth.
Grand Tour Breche Sanguine & Gilt Bronze Mounted Navicella
Nicholas Wells Antiques
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Bacchanalian Bronze Faun After Soldani antique bronze sculpture of a faun with detailed muscular form circa 1800
Bacchanalian Bronze Faun After Soldani antique bronze sculpture showing detailed upper torso and drapery close-up.
Bacchanalian Bronze Faun After Soldani
Collection CK40
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Bronze Bust of Lysimachus Grand Tour depicting a detailed antique sculpture on a round base from circa 1800.
Bronze Bust of Lysimachus Grand Tour depicts the ancient ruler with detailed features and textured hair on a pedestal base.
Bronze Bust of Lysimachus | Grand Tour | After the Antique
Nicholas Wells Antiques
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Grand Tour inspired Borghese Vase in alabaster with mythological motifs by Collection CK20, circa 1800 Italy.
19th-century Italian Borghese Vase in alabaster with classical mythological motifs by Collection CK20
Borghese Vase
Collection CK20
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Italian 18th Century Marble Bust of a Girl, late 18th century, detailed sculpture of a smiling girl in marble.
Italian 18th Century Marble Bust of a Girl
Nicholas Wells Antiques
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Regency Giltwood Console Table After the Antique with white marble top and gilt chimera legs, circa 1810 English Regency style.
Regency Giltwood Console Table After the Antique with white marble top and gilt chimera supports circa 1810 England.
Regency Giltwood Console Table After the Antique
Collection EE40
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19th Century Grand Tour Bust of Julius Caesar marble portrait sculpture circa 1850 Rome Italy 49 cm tall
19th Century Grand Tour Bust of Julius Caesar marble portrait sculpture on pedestal against black background
19th Century Grand Tour Bust of Julius Caesar
Collection CK40
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Narrow George III Hepplewhite Secretaire Bookcase by Nicholas Wells Antiques with rich wood and elegant design
Narrow George III Hepplewhite Secretaire Bookcase by Nicholas Wells Antiques in polished mahogany finish
Narrow George III Hepplewhite Secretaire Bookcase
Nicholas Wells Antiques
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Grand Tour Specimen Marble Table Top – Mallett Coffee Table with 68 inset marbles and chinoiserie wooden base.
Grand Tour Specimen Marble Table Top – Mallett Coffee Table with 68 marbles and central micromosaic floral design
Grand Tour Specimen Marble Table Top – Mallett Coffee Table
Collection PK10
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George III Derbyshire Blue John urn with marble base from Collection TH20, showcasing refined 18th-century craftsmanship
George III Derbyshire Blue John urn on stepped marble base from Collection TH20 with rich veining and classical design
George III Derbyshire Blue John Urn
Collection TH20
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George III turned Blue John urn with gilt bronze finial on marble base by Collection CK20
Close-up of a George III Blue John urn showing rich purple bands and texture from Collection CK20
George III Turned Blue John Urn
Collection CK20
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Pair of 19th-century bronze Grand Tour vases after the Medici Vase, Neo-Classical style by Collection CK20.
Pair of elegant 19th-century bronze Grand Tour vases inspired by Medici Vase by Collection CK20.
Pair of Grand Tour Models after the Medici Vase
Collection CK20
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Grand Tour bronze vase with classical reliefs and fluted handles from Collection CK20, circa 1820 Italy craftsmanship
Grand Tour bronze vase after the antique with exquisite relief and classical motifs by Collection CK20, circa 1820 Italy.
Grand Tour Bronze Vase After The Antique
Collection CK20
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Giambologna bronze sculpture of Cesarini Venus, early 19th century classical revival, Italy circa 1830, 35 cm tall.
Giambologna early 19th century bronze Venus statue, classical revival, Italy circa 1830, 35 cm tall on stand 46 cm.
Giambologna
Nicholas Wells Antiques
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Giacomo Raffaelli Doves of Pliny micromosaic panel depicting doves around a gold basin on blue background.
Giacomo Raffaelli Doves of Pliny
Nicholas Wells Antiques
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Grand Tour Bronze Recumbent Mastiff Dog sculpture on Siena marble plinth, 19th century French antique artwork.
Grand Tour Bronze Recumbent Mastiff Dog sculpture lying down on a Siena marble plinth circa 1830.
Grand Tour Bronze Recumbent Mastiff Dog
Nicholas Wells Antiques
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Grand Tour Equestrian Bronze sculpture showing a rearing horse evading a striking snake on a marble base.
Grand Tour Equestrian Bronze sculpture of a rearing horse confronting a striking snake, symbolizing good versus evil.
Grand Tour Equestrian Bronze
Collection CK40
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Grand Tour Neapolitan bronze vase after antique, circa 1900, with elegant amphora shape by Collection TH20
Close-up of bronze Neapolitan vase handle featuring a classical face detail from Collection TH20.
Grand Tour Neapolitan vase after the Antique Attributed to De Angelis
Collection TH20
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Bronze Bust of Homer, ancient Greek poet sculpture with laurel wreath, mounted on breche violet and black marble base.
Bronze Bust of Homer with laurel wreath on breche violet and black Belgian marble base, circa 1830, Italy.
Bronze Bust of Homer
Nicholas Wells Antiques
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Late 18th Century Grand Tour Bronze Bust of Hadrian depicting Roman emperor in detailed bronze sculpture.
Late 18th Century Grand Tour Bronze Bust of Hadrian
Nicholas Wells Antiques
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Grand Tour White Marble Bust Of Marcus Aurelius As A Boy
The Sold Archive
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Pair of Bronze Centaurs
Nicholas Wells Antiques
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Antonio Canova
Nicholas Wells Antiques
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Carlo Albacini
Nicholas Wells Antiques
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Rare 19th-century micromosaic of Rome with St Peters and Tiber River in black ebonised frame by Nicholas Wells Antiques
19th-century micromosaic view of Rome by Nicholas Wells Antiques featuring St Peters and the Tiber River.
Micromosaic View of Rome With St Peters, Vatican
Nicholas Wells Antiques
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