Pair of Grand Tour Marble Obelisks

A very chic pair of Grand Tour marble obelisks

Italy, 20th century

Why we like them

Beautiful objects like this have always been a favourite souvenir from the Grand Tour. thanks to their timeless form, at the same time architectural but also highly sculptural, these objects are perfectly suited for classical and modern interiors.

From around the middle of the 17th century, young, wealthy graduates of Oxford and Cambridge Universities began embarking on voyages around the Mediterranean. The purpose of these expeditions was to discover the roots of European culture through art, literature, and archaeology. ‘Grand Tours’, as they became known, were soon both educational and social rites of passage among the nobility. For any length of time from months to years, grand tourists would travel with a cohort of guides and chaperons through countries such as Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, Egypt and the Holy Lands — and most importantly, Italy.