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Grand Tour Busts

GRAND TOUR STYLE

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 micromosaicssmall 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.

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Style: Grand Tour
Grand Tour Antique Italian Carved Marble Bust of Young Caesar Augustus
Located in Shippensburg, PA
GRAND TOUR Italy, circa late 19th/early 20th Century Bust of Young Gaius Octavius Augustus Carved Carrara marble, unsigned 17 1/4" H x 8 3/4" W x 5 5/8" D A good Grand Tour bust ...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Marble

After the Antique Polychromed Bronze Bust of the Prima Porta Augustus Caesar
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
After the antique polychromed bronze bust of the Prima Porta Augustus Caesar. Italy,mid-20th century A extraordinary, large scale, very heavy mid 20th...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Seated Hermes , a 19th Century Italian Grand Tour Bronze
Located in Chicago, IL
An extraordinary and wonderfully rendered 19th century Italian cast bronze depicting a seated Hermes, the Greek god of messengers, travelers, and merchan...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Bronze

Grand Tour 19th Century Marble Bust of Antinous as Hermes by Filli Pugi
Located in Shippensburg, PA
FILLI PUGI Italian, fl. 19th century Bust of the Capitoline Antinous after Antiquity Carved Carrara Marble signed verso “Filli Pugi Firenze” executed circa late 19th century Ite...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Carrara Marble

Plaster Bust of Roman Emperor Augustus on Wood Pedestal
Located in Elkhart, IN
A gorgeous bust of Roman emperor Augustus. USA, Circa mid-20th century Plaster bust on wood pedestal base Measures: 2.75"W x 2.75"D x 7.5"H. Good original vintage condition.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Plaster, Wood

Italian Grand Tour Marble Bust of Augustus Caesar
Located in Bradenton, FL
Italian Grand Tour Marble Bust of Augustus Caesar, originally known as Octavian. Augustus was Julius Caesar's great-nephew, and Julius Caesar named him as prime beneficiary and his p...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Marble

Italian Grand Tour Carved Marble Bust Of Woman
Located in Bradenton, FL
Classical 19th century hand-carved Italian Neoclassic Grand Tour marble female bust. Bust features intricately carved young woman's head and neck, wearing delicate drapery across déc...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Marble

Antique Plaster Bust of Apollo on a Simulated Marble Column
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An antique plaster bust of Apollo in life-size form raised on a simulated marble column. Dating from the late 19th century, this superb plaster figure will make a handsome feature o...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Plaster

Italian Carrara Marble Bust Of The Apollo Belvedere
Located in Essex, MA
Nicely carved bust. With round socle base. A celebrated sculpture from classical antiquity.
Category

Late 19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Carrara Marble

19th Century Marble Bust of Antinous
Located in Dublin 8, IE
19th Century Marble Bust of Antinous after the original known as the 'Antinous Vaticano' discovered at Hadrian's Villa. Featuring realistic detail to hair and handsome facial features...
Category

19th Century European Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Marble

Bust Grand Tour Ajax in Patinated Bronze and Marble Column Base
Located in Madrid, ES
A 19th century patinated bronze depicting the hero Ajax or Menelaus, king of Sparta, mounted on a column-shaped base of grey veined marble, a classic souvenir of the Grand Tour
Category

Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Bronze Bust of Menelaus, Italian Grand Tour
Located in Bradenton, FL
Italian Grand Tour Bronze Bust of Menelaus on a stepped wooden plinth. Menelaus was the legendary King of Sparta from Greek mythology. This sculpture depicts the bearded warrior wear...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Bronze

19th Century French Patinated Bronze Bust Of Ariadne
Located in Norwood, NJ
Antique 19th century French patinated bronze bust of Ariadne retailed by Tiffany & Co. Beautiful Grand Tour model mounted on a gilt bronze and rouge marble plinth. Marked Tiffany & Co. with inventory number. The Antinous bust based on the Lansdown Antinous marble found at Hadrian’s Villa...
Category

19th Century French Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Pair of Grand Tour Socrates and Septimio Severo Busts
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of Italian busts from the Grand Tour, representing the Greek philosopher Socrates and the Emperor Septimius Severus, sculpted in bronze, with a chiseled bronze base and marble c...
Category

Late 19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Fine Pair of Grand Tour Style Miniature Bronze Busts, Continental, circa 1900
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A very handsome pair of classical bronze busts raised on white alabaster columns decorated with gilt metal rings, atop squared rouge royal marble...
Category

Early 20th Century German Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Alabaster, Bronze

18th Century Italian Grand Tour Pair Of Classical Busts Apollo Belvedere Diana
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Elegant Pair The Italian 19th Century Grand Tour Classical Greek God And Goddess Apollo And Diana Decorative Alabaster Busts For A Wonderful Library Desk Depicting Apollo Belvedere ...
Category

18th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Marble

Italian Marble Bust of Caesar Augustus
Located in Essex, MA
Nicely carved head with Turquin blue marble socle. Smooth soft patina to the stone. Turquin marble was used in ancient Rome for flooring , bathtubs etc. It was used often in the Fren...
Category

1870s Italian Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Carrara Marble

A Large Hand-Carved Multi-Marble Roman Bust Representing Achilles
Located in New York, NY
A large and unusual 19th century hand-carved Roman bust representing Achilles, executed in polychrome specimen marbles. The figure is shown wearing a crested helmet and classical mil...
Category

20th Century Italian Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Marble

Vintage Italian Grand Tour Bronze Bust of Julius Augustus Caesar
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Italian Grand Tour Bronze Bust of Julius Augustus Caesar A beautiful bust raised on a marble plinth base with a brass crest to dress up any home. Realistically cast and mode...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Grand Tour Bust of Augustus
Located in Greenwich, CT
Italian 19th century bronze bust of Augustus Ceasar, finely detailed and well patinated, standing on turned ebonized wood and marble socle plinth base.
Category

Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Italian Grand Tour White Marble Bust of Augustus Caesar
Located in Bradenton, FL
19th century Italian Grand Tour white marble bust of Augustus Caesar. Bust sits on a round white marble pedestal base. Augustus was Julius Caesar's great-nephew, and the first Roman ...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Marble

Apollo and Diana Plaster Busts
Located in Savannah, GA
A pair of modern grand tour plaster busts depicting Apollo and Diana, circa 1940s. 5 ½ inches wide by 4 ¼ inches deep by 10 ½ inches tall Good overall with some discoloration and ...
Category

1940s Unknown Vintage Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Plaster

Antique Wedgwood Basalt Bust of Homer
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An antique Wedgwood black basalt bust of Homer. This Grand Tour style sculpture is a very stylish depiction of the scholar. This English bust depicts the legendary poet and author Homer who is presumed to have penned the two of ancient Greece’s most epic poems: the Iliad and the Odyssey. Scholars are uncertain whether or not Homer actually existed but if he in fact did exist, Homer would be regarded as one of the greatest literary artists of his time. At over 160 years old, this Homer bust...
Category

Mid-19th Century English Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Stone

Italian Grand Tour Antique Bronze Sculpture, Bust of Julius Caesar
Located in Shippensburg, PA
A finely cast and beautifully patinated bust of Julius Caesar, it likely originates from Rome circa the third quarter of the 19th century and rests over its original violet breché ma...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Grand Tour bust of a woman, Italy 19th century
Located in Greding, DE
Female bronze bust of a woman on a gilded foot, resting on a brown marble plinth with a black wooden base. Natural patina. Plinth 7 x 7 cm
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Life size Marble Bust sculpture of Apollo, Italy 19th Century
Located in San Francisco, CA
An impressive and larger than life size hand-carved Carrara marble bust of Apollo, signed C. Scheggi (1833-1876). In excellent antique condition...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Marble

Pair of Bronze Busts of Rousseau and Voltaire
Located in London, GB
A pair of Antique busts of the French philosophers Rousseau and Voltaire. Unusually although from fairly standard portraits the busts appear to be English rather than French as they ...
Category

1820s English Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Bronze

Ajax, bust in bronze
Located in S-HERTOGENBOSCH, NL
Grand Tour bronze of the god Ajax from Greek mythology. Very detailed with a beautiful patina.
Category

1860s Italian Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Bronze

Early 20th Century Sculpture Plaster Bust of Platon
Located in Madrid, ES
An academy bust in plaster representing a Greek philosopher, possibly Platon, the bust has a high quality of execution and is slightly patinated.
Category

Mid-20th Century Spanish Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Plaster

Antique Regency Statuary Marble Bust
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An antique Regency white statuary marble bust of a young Roman man. Dating to 1820, this is an impressive sculpture of a young man, wearing a Roman toga on a round socle base in Reg...
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Marble, Statuary Marble

19th century bronze bust of the Greek Goddess Diana the Huntress, circa 1860
Located in Central England, GB
This superb Grand Tour bronze study portrays a bust of Diana of Versailles or Diana the Huntress, considered in Roman and Hellenistic mythology as goddess and patroness of countryside, nature, hunters, wildlife and childbirth. This fine example is French, circa 1860. It is raised onto a sophisticated base with a thin bronze foot with a turned black slate plinth and above there is a highly decorative cast...
Category

1860s French Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Bronze

Rare Grand Tour Bronze Bust of Cicero After Massimiliano Soldani Benzi
Located in Montreal, QC
Rare grand Tour Patinated bronze bust of Cicero After Massimiliano Soldani Benzi. The original is in the collection of Liechtenstein Museum in Vienna. P...
Category

1850s Italian Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Bronze

A Pair of 18th C. Italian Grand Tour Busts of Emperors Domitian and Nerva
Located in New York, NY
A Pair of Grand Tour Period 18th C. Italian Roman Busts of Emperors Domitian and Nerva. These busts depict the Roman Emperors Domitian and Nerva, and demonstrate finely cast and han...
Category

Late 18th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Grand Tour Bust of Julius Caesar, 19th Century
Located in London, by appointment only
19th Century Grand Tour statuary marble portrait bust of Julius Caesar 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC Bust of Julius Caesar Julius Caesar was a...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Marble

19th Century Italian Grand Tour Bronze Bust of Dante
Located in San Francisco, CA
An exceptional large antique Italian Grand Tour Bronze and bust of Dante Alighieri, mid to late 19th century circa 1880. This fine bronze is modeled as the 13th century Italian Poet,...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Bronze

pair of Italian 19th century Alabaster and Verde Ranocchia marble busts
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A wonderful and small scaled pair of Italian 19th century Grand Tour Period Alabaster and Verde Ranocchia marble bust of Torquato Tasso and Michele Sanmicheli. These most decorative ...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Marble

19th century Grand Tour period Alabaster and Marble bust of Athena
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A wonderful and small scale Italian 19th century Grand Tour period Alabaster and Verde Ranocchia Marble bust of Athena Of Velletri. This most charming bust is raised on square Ranocc...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Alabaster, Marble

Grand Tour Bronze Bust of a Greco-Roman Classical Maiden, French, c. 1880
Located in Atlanta, GA
A finely modeled Grand Tour bronze bust depicting a Greco-Roman maiden, her head gently turned and crowned with a low diadem edged with rivet-like studs. The softly waved hair is arr...
Category

19th Century French Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Bronze

Antique Grand Tour French Bronze Sculpture Male Figure Cherub Clodion Barbediene
Located in Dublin, Ireland
An exceptional example of a chisel cast French Patinated Bronze Figural Group of a Satyr and a male Figure holding a Baby Bacchus after Claude Michel Clodion (1738-1814) in dark pati...
Category

19th Century French Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

19th Century Petite Italian Grand Tour Souvenir Bronze Bust of Dante Alighieri
Located in Pearland, TX
A fine antique 19th Century petite Grand Tour souvenir bronze bust of Italian poet Dante Alighieri. This handsome bust is well cast with exquisite details and lovely original patina....
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Bronze

Grand Tour Roamn Style Bronze Bust of a Man
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Grand Tour Roman Style Bronze Bust of a Man Italy, 20th century  A striking Grand Tour Roman-style bronze bust of a man, made in Italy during the 20th century. This beautifully cas...
Category

20th Century European Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Bronze

Small Grand Tour Style Souvenir Of David On A Marble Plinth
Located in Kent, Dover
A Small Italian Grand Tour style souvenir of David on a marble plinth.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Marble

Silver Bust of Menelaus King of Sparta Grand Tour
Located in Rochester, NY
19th century silver plate bust Menelaus mythological king of Sparta. A fine casting with rich patina. Ebonized wood base. Illegible hallmark. In Greek mythology, Menelaus was a king ...
Category

19th Century European Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Silver Plate

Italian Grand Tour Bronze Sculpture Bust of Diana by Del Nerro Foundry
Located in Shippensburg, PA
GRAND TOUR Italy, mid-19th century Bust of the goddess Diana Cast by Del Nero Foundry, Rome, crisp inscription to base of neck verso DEL NERO ROMA Patinated bronze raised on a mottled pink marble...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Antique Grand Tour French Bronze Sculpture Male Female Figure Clodion Barbediene
Located in Dublin, Ireland
An exceptional example of a fine pair of chisel cast French Patinated Bronze Figures after Claude Michel Clodion (1738-1814) in very dark brown patination. Mid-19th Century. Firmly a...
Category

19th Century French Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Antique Pair of French Grand Tour Bronze Marble Cherubs Figures Putti Bookends
Located in Dublin, Ireland
Stylish example of a pair of heavy well cast Grand Tour bronze seated figures of two amorino (infant cupid or cherub) probably of French origin, early nineteenth century. Each fig...
Category

19th Century French Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Marble, Bronze, Ormolu

Grand Tour Style Bronze Bust of Clytie
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Grand Tour Style bronze bust of Clytie, after the antique, the nymph with downcast face and scantily draped, cupped in a large flower. Raised on a 6" sq...
Category

Early 20th Century French Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Bronze

Fine Large Patinated Bronze Bust of a Roman or Greek Nobleman
Located in New York, NY
Fine and very detailed patinated bronze bust of a Roman or Greek nobleman.
Category

19th Century French Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Bronze

Italian Carrara Marble Bust of a Roman Patrician
Located in Essex, MA
Nicely carved bust of a Roman patrician. a 19th century copy of an ancient Roman image. Socle base.
Category

Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Carrara Marble

Italian Bronze Neoclassical Grand Tour Bust
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A small Italian Grand Tour bust, circa 1780, depicting a patinated bronze gentleman in neoclassical dress upon a contrasting marble plinth. Onc...
Category

Late 19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Italian Grand Tour Bronze Bust of Caesar
Located in Essex, MA
Bronze bust on yellow marble socle.
Category

Late 19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Grand Tour Bust of Apollo Belvedere, Italy 19th century
Located in Greding, DE
Gilded bust of Apollo Belvedere on a grey cylindrical plinth with black base. Plinth: 6.5 x 6.5 cm
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Grand Tour Bronze Bust Of Seneca
Located in Essex, MA
Bust of Seneca likely made in the Naples area of Italy. Now seated on a faux porphyry base. Loss of a section of bronze at base of neck.
Category

1870s Italian Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Bronze

A Fine Grand Tour Bronze Bust of a Greek Philosopher, After Mathurin Moreau
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
This finely modelled Hellenistic style bronze portrait bust appears to be that of the Greek philosopher Chrysippus of Soli - regarded by scholars as the 2nd founder of the School of ...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Bronze

Grand Tour Bronze Bust of Seneca
Located in Essex, MA
Modeled after the original found at Pompeii.
Category

1880s Italian Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Bronze

Pair of 19th Century 1850s Grand Tour Italian Carved Multi-Marble Busts
Located in North Miami, FL
A pair 19th century (1850s) (Grand Tour) Italian carved multi-marble busts of Augustus of Prima Porta and Julius Cesar. These extremely fine an...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Marble, Carrara Marble

Antique Grand Tour Bronze Bust of Roman Emperor
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An antique Grand Tour bronze bust of a roman emperor, mounted on a Belgian black marble base. Thought to be a depiction of a young Caesar, the expertly carved sculpture showcases de...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Marble, Belgian Black Marble

Circa 1870-1880 Pair French Grand Tour Bronze Female Busts
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Circa 1870-1880 Pair French Grand Tour Bronze Female Busts Beautiful pair purchased in France. Age appropriate wear, see detailed photos or message us with questions.
Category

19th Century French Antique Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Bronze

Bust in the Grand Tour Style of Greek God Dionysus
Located in Memphis, TN
An Exceptional Large grand Tour Style Hellenistic Bust Of Greek God Dionysus. Highly detailed classical bust made of cast marble aka “marble dust.” Replica of Greek classical sculpt...
Category

Mid-20th Century European Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Marble

Vintage Grand Tour Plaster Bust of Man - a Pair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A fabulous pair of vintage plaster busts. A handsome man with an even more handsome beard. Done in the grand tour style. Painted a bright white. A...
Category

Mid-20th Century Grand Tour Busts

Materials

Plaster, Paint

Grand Tour busts for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Grand Tour busts for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage busts created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, building and garden elements and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Grand Tour busts made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and France pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original busts, popular names associated with this style include Achille Collas, Chiurazzi fondata, and Sabatino De Angelis. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for busts differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $395 and tops out at $108,302 while the average work can sell for $2,514.

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