Antique Pair French Grand Tour Bronze & Siena Marble Tazze 19th C

A superb antique pair of French Grand Tour bronze and Siena marble mounted tazze, Circa 1870 in date.

This pair of patinated bronze campana urns are after the Borghese models with classical relief decoration with egg and dart borders, each with scroll handles, raised on a Siena Marble stepped pedestal with ribbon tied laurel bronze mounts.

This high quality hot cast solid bronze was produced using the traditional "lost wax" process, otherwise known as the "cire perdue" method.

The craftsmanship is second to none throughout all aspects of this pair and they are sure to add an unparalleled touch of class to your home.

Provenance:

House on Belgrave Square, London

Condition:

In excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 30 cm x Width 23 cm x Depth 18 cm

Dimensions in inches:

Height 1 foot x Width 9 inches x Depth 7 inches

The Grand Tour was the traditional trip of Europe undertaken by mainly upper-class European young men of means. The custom flourished from about 1660 until the advent of large-scale rail transit in the 1840s, and was associated with a standard itinerary.

It served as an educational rite of passage. Though primarily associated with the British nobility and wealthy landed gentry, similar trips were made by wealthy young men of Protestant Northern European nations on the Continent, and from the second half of the 18th century some South American, U.S., and other overseas youth joined in. The tradition was extended to include more of the middle class after rail and steamship travel made the journey less of a burden.

The primary value of the Grand Tour, it was believed, lay in the exposure both to the cultural legacy of classical antiquity and the Renaissance, and to the aristocratic and fashionably polite society of the European continent. In addition, it provided the only opportunity to view specific works of art, and possibly the only chance to hear certain music. A grand tour could last from several months to several years. It was commonly undertaken in the company of a knowledgeable guide or tutor.

The Grand Tour not only provided a liberal education but allowed those who could afford it the opportunity to buy things otherwise unavailable at home, and it thus increased participants' prestige and standing. Grand Tourists would return with crates of art, books, pictures, sculpture, and items of culture, which would be displayed in libraries, cabinets, gardens, and drawing rooms, as well as the galleries built purposely for their display; The Grand Tour became a symbol of wealth and freedom.

Belgrave Square

Known to be one of the most prestigious addresses in the country, Belgrave Square has been famous since it’s development in the mid 19th century, commissioned by the 2nd Earl Grosvenor, late 1st Marquess of Westminster and contracted/built by Thomas Cubitt and George Basevi respectively.

Whilst the majority of properties are now embassies or headquarters for international businesses or charities, very few remain as private houses, including this house which Bellmans have been instructed to sell the contents on behalf of the current owners.

Lost Wax Method

sometimes called by the French name of cire perdue or the Latin, cera perduta is the process by which a bronze or brass is cast from an artists sculpture.

In industrial uses, the modern process is called investment casting. An ancient practice, the process today varies from foundry to foundry, but the steps which are usually used in casting small bronze sculptures in a modern bronze foundry are generally quite standardised.

Our reference: A3716a