Take the Grand Tour – with Obelisks
Posted November 2, 2015
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The Grand Tour flourished as a custom from the mid-17th to the mid-19th century. Like modern day travelers, those taking the Grand Tour brought back souvenirs – like obelisks!
Found on PinterestThe home of Swiss Collector, Antoine Chenevière, included Grand Tour marble objects, among others a pair of monochrome bianco e nero obelisks displayed on an Italian ormolu-mounted walnut commode from the late 18th/early 19th century.
The New York Times in 2008 described the Grand Tour in this way:
Three hundred years ago, wealthy young Englishmen began taking a post-Oxbridge trek through France and Italy in search of art, culture and the roots of Western civilization. With nearly unlimited funds, aristocratic connections and months (or years) to roam, they commissioned paintings, perfected their language skills and mingled with the upper crust of the Continent.
— Gross, Matt., "Lessons From the Frugal Grand Tour." New York Times 5 September 2008
Many of the obelisk souvenirs were replicas of Egyptian obelisks, and had hieroglyphics carved into their surfaces. They were made of metal, marble, and stones. These are a few Grand Tour obelisks with hieroglyphics currently in stock at Only Obelisks.
Found on PinterestThe Grand Tour makes a terrific focus for a collection – obelisks and more!
