Join our newsletter
Sign up for email updates on new product arrivals, promotions and information
This magnificent marble masterpiece is a work of art, a variation on the ancient 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.
Nicholas Wells Antiques advisors are available to answer all your questions.
Discover the antiques you missed, and register your interest for similar pieces.
Stock Number: 88015
This rarefied unique piece is subject to availability.
Call directly to secure it:
Telephone: +44 (0) 207 6920 897
Sign up for email updates on new product arrivals, promotions and information
© 2022 Nicholas Wells Antiques Ltd, All rights reserved
If you are interested in this piece and would like to see if there is any movement on price, please fill in the required details below.
Please note, making an offer excludes packing and shipping.
"*" indicates required fields
Thank you for registering your interest. If it becomes available again, we shall be in touch.
"*" indicates required fields
Register your interest in similar items. Please elaborate on your requirements and budget in the text box below.
"*" indicates required fields
Find it. Love it. Art Money it.
Any list price purchase is applicable.
Benefit from 0% finance over 10 months with our finance partner Art Money.
Additional packing and shipping charges are added to the total.
Please contact us if you would like to benefit from this service.
"*" indicates required fields
Approximate Dimensions
Unfortunately we haven’t confirmed the origins of this product. If you would like to discuss this in more detail please fill in the form below and we will contact you to discuss.
"*" indicates required fields
If you have any specific questions regarding this piece, please use the form below.
"*" indicates required fields
Our description of any item on the website, any condition report and any other statement made by us (whether orally or in writing) about any item, including about its nature or condition, artist, period, materials, approximate dimensions, or provenance are our opinion and not to be relied upon as a statement of fact.
In the UK Online sales of this kind are known as ‘distance selling’. We offer a refund to customers if you’ve told us within 3 days of receiving the goods that you want to cancel. You have another 14 days to return the goods once you’ve told us of your intention. A refund will be issued within 14 days of receiving the goods back in the same condition. Return shipping should be the same level as received with insurance, we recommend using the same shipper at your cost. If needed we will help organise suitable shipping.
We will refund the purchase price, excluding delivery costs and taxes, within 14 days of the safe receipt of items in the same condition as supplied. The liability for any damage incurred during transit will remain with the sender. We recommend that adequate insurance is placed on items when returning them to us.
All returns must be communicated prior to an item being sent back.
We extend these Return terms to our international clients.
We will ship worldwide however the costs vary between countries so please email us for a quote. Depending on the item we will recommend the most suitable method.
Our preferred international shipping methods include fine art shippers Gander and White, Art Logistics, Cadogan Tate for items over £5,000. For Fedex, DHL or UPS shipments we expertly pack in-house in wooden crates or heavy duty cardboard – Suitable for most items under £5000. If you have your own shippers we are very happy to coordinate with them.
All items are sent fully insured at the invoice value.
All items are inclusive of all local taxes but may be subject to additional charges for importation and taxes local to the client. Antiques are zero-rated to the USA, all items ship with the correct paperwork. While we are not liable for these additional charges we do encourage clients to research these prior to purchasing items from us. We will make a full value disclosure, as required by the insurance, on all items sent overseas. This is required to ensure proper insurance cover in sending valuable items.
Where required we will oversee the completion of all export licenses for high-value items. We will also arrange for CITES paperwork for materials of endangered species including ivory, tortoiseshell, stuffed birds etc.
This is dependent on the size and value of the object, all items are checked over and polished before shipping and will generally have wooden crates made. This all takes time so expect 10 – 20 working days for delivery unless the item is small in which case 2-3 days from order.
Every effort is made to make Customs Clearance as quick as possible, items held in customs are out of our control. They may require documents / ID to release the goods, please keep this in mind, it is just procedure.
All our antiques now also come with an invoice as a Valuation Certificate for insurance purposes.