John & Rico's
A COLLECTION OF OBJECTS PURCHASED BY TRAVELERS ABROAD
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As with all our catagory pages: click on the image to take you to a page of detail images. Gift wrapping is available for smaller items and of course we can ship purchases to most destinations via UPS, U.S. Postal or Fedex.
{If you wish to read an interesting book that relates to The Grand Tour, read "Tourism in History: From Imperial Rome to the Present" by Maxine Feifer. Stein and Day Publishers / New York; 1985 / ISBN: 0-8128-3087-3 We have found this book informative and an enjoyable read.}
{click on the image to take you to a page of multiple images}
Item: ERHARD 1. An Art Nouveau / Secession / Erhard and Son metal inlaid picture frame. Size: 8.25" x 10.25". Erhard specialized in Intarsia: inlaid metal in wood. This is a grand tour item brought back to America by two traveling relatives (either distant cousins or sisters) as a gift for Richard Borden. In pen is written the following on the wood back of the frame: " This frame given to Richard Borden by Anna and Carrie Borden which they bought on their trip to the Austrian Tyrol - 1910 - The wires are hammered in by hand" I believe that both Anna and Carrie traveled with Lizzie Borden on a grand tour trip to Europe in, I belive, 1890. The Richard Borden mentioned on the frame is I believe the grandson of Col. Richard Borden of the Fall River Line of Steam ships. We purchased this frame about 1980 from a grand-daughter (of Richard) whose Gothic Family home was on Rock Street in Fall River, MA. Condition: the back stand is missing and replaced with an inferior (though old) replacement; there is a chip to the top left of the outer wood frame. The metal and Ivory inlay is in perfect condition, being under glass, there is not fading or discoloration to the wood. Has collectible interest as a work from the famed Erhard factory and as a albet distant Lizzie Borden family collectible. Price: $450.00.
# 5227: A pair (2) of 19th century Italian Grand Tour Candelabras. Bronze. Probably made in Rome or Naples. Each is app. 12" tall; base is 4.5" across. Sitting on three paw feet supporting a platter with 4 Roman recessed 'coin' medallions inturn supporting a two arm candle holder topped with a male nude figure: one Baccus and the other a cymbal player. Signed with the initials: A.D. and a star. Condition: the threaded rod holding the candelabra together has probably been replaced; there may or may not have been candle cup inserts (candles fit and are supported very well in the candle holders).There are tiny white paint spatters on the candelabras that should be easy to remove; the medallion pans: one seems to be lighter that then other suggesting that it was cleaned at one time. These candelabras are beautifully detailed with Neo-Grec decorations. Of the scores of Italian Grand Tour objects over the years, this is the first pair of candelabras in this style and decoration that we have come across. Price: $3,500.00 the pair.
# 5062. A Grand Tour Memento from Jeruselem. Size: app. 5.5" x 7". Age: circa 1880. Mounted on paper: a dried bouquet of flora from a visitor to Jeruselem. Condition: intact without losses. Notations state the locations of each element of the bouquet as picked on site. The hand written text reads: (on the left side) "From Jeruselem viz; (from) The holy Sepulchre; (from) Mount Zion; (from) David's Tomb; (from) Solomon's Aqueduct; (from) Mount Moriah; (from) The Site of The Temple; (from) Golden Gate; (from) Pool of Bethesda; (and on the right side) From The Mount of Olives; (from) Brook Kedron; (from) The Tomb of the Bl. V. Mary; (from) Valley of Jehoshaphat; (from) Pool of Tiloam; (from) Royal Gardens; (from) Valley of Roses" The title for this rare and unusual Grand Tour collectible is: "Church Heather". The value is priceless, the cost is $300.00.
# 4472. A dated 1830 Portrait Bust. Signed on the bust in large script: "R. Trentanove Fece Roma 1830". Size: 26 1/2" tall and 16" wide. Material: Carrara Marble. Condition: minor edge flakes to the toga; multiple tiny paint splatters to the surface; the sockel was neatly broken into and reglued. Please see detailed images below. This handsome classical portrait bust in typical of the era (1830's). Probably commissioned as a portrait bust by the sitter. In storage in a Newport warehouse since about 1925. Raimondo Trentanove, Italian 1792-1832; Initially a pupil of De Maria and Bartolini, Trentanove worked in Rome in close partnership with Canova. There he was involved in the execution of numerous works in his master's style, including direct copies after Canova, antique sculpture and portrait busts. Amongst the latter there exists a fine marble of Canova himself, now in the Galleria d'arte Moderna, Milan. Another version of the present impressive memorial bust of Napoleon may be found in the Museo del Risorgimento, Faenza. This portrait bust was completed two years before Trentanove's death in 1832. In the exhibition catalogue: " Art and the Empire New York 1825, 1861 " Edited by Catherine Hoover Voorsanger and John K. Howat ( ISBN 0-87099-957-5 ) on page 137 is mentioned: "Also in 1824 the (American) Academy elected as honorary member the Italian Raimondo Trentanove, a favored pupil of Canova . . . an act calculated to emphasize the institution's connections to Europe and to counter criticism of American cultural provincialism."This link takes you to view a bust of "Buste de Laetitia Bonaparte" by Trentanove. This bust weighs 103 lbs. Price $30,000.00.
( A Trentanove bust of Napoleon sold recently at a Sothebys Auction for just over $53,000.00.
Information from a Sothebys Auction of a portrait bust by Trentanove of George Washington taking place in 2005: LOT 12 PROPERTY FROM THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY, ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS RAIMONDO TRENTANOVE (1792-1832) GEORGE WASHINGTON 8,000—12,000 USD Lot Sold. Hammer Price with Buyer's Premium: $36,000 USD ; measurements height: 22.5 in. alternate measurements (57.2 cm) DESCRIPTION inscribed R. Trentanove. Fece. in Roma. 1824 white marble Executed in 1824. PROVENANCE Commissioned by James Lenox in Rome, 1824
# 5020. A carved Serpentine Stone figure of the Dying Gaul. Size: 12" x 5" x 7.5" tall. Age: late 19th century. Serpentine stone was mined in England and Europe. Decorative figures such as this were often carved not far from the mines and sold to tourists to be brought home from their Grand Tour Trip. This well proportioned athletic male nude is a copy of a larger item from antiquity. Please note there is a fig leaf partially covering the figure. Condition: there is an edge flake to the base about 1/2" across and 1/4" tall. No repairs or restorations. Price: $2,750.00
# 4817. A Grand Tour Tent. Egyptian (probably woven there and consistent with textiles and tapestry's from Egypt). c. 1920's. The previous owner "bought this canape from Vera the scarf designer; Vera Neumann (Stamford, Connecticut, 1910-1993) was a print designer who began her unique career designing place mats. Eventually she expanded into other home furnishings and fashions to create a major design company. . She got it from Sister Carita {"In 1971, Boston Gas commissioned artist Corita Kent to use one of two large natural-gas tanks in Dorchester as a giant canvas. The result was an instant landmark: a rainbow of colored stripes that greets motorists on Rte. 93 and which is the world's largest copyrighted art work. But did Kent, active in protesting the Vietnam War, add a political statement to the piece? Look closely at the left side of the blue stripe, and you'll see a man's profile. Now follow that profile down and an unmistakable beard appears - that of Ho Chi Minh. Kent has since died, so she's not talking. But Boston Gas ardently denies any political tinge, saying the profile is a coincidence. A couple of years ago, when the company tore down the tank with the art on it, it had it re-painted on the remaining tank. Tank purists quickly noted that the profile had a rounder, less Ho-like nose. Boston Gas insisted the rounder beak was more in keeping with what it says was Kent's original design." }in a monastery in California." Size: app. 10' in diameter and about 8' tall (the fabric) when assembled, it is about 16' tall. Condition: considerable fraying to the fabric though it seems to add to the look making it seem to appear older than it's actual age. In a private collection for the past 30 years. Price for this item is: $3,500.00.
# 5012. A pair of monumental Grand Tour Carved Marble Urns. Each is 51" tall and the base is 12" in diameter. Made between 1840-50. Italian. The dark marble bases are made of Portoro Marble. This marble has been mined in La Spezia Italy since the 16th century. It is a hard calcareous rock with black and yellow streaks. The base is solid. The urns were made in several sections and cemented together with plaster. The opening at the top is 6" diameter on the inside of the foliate carving. We suspect that these pedestals were used as lamp holders. They could have easily have held either a candelabra or carcel or moderator lamps. Condition: there is evidence that there were foliate 'ears' on either side of each upper urn section. A hole has been filled. The base to one of the urns has had restoration. These urns bolt together. We do not know the type of white with black veins stone composes the urn sections. We do not believe that it is alabaster; the urns may be Arabesqued marble which was mined in the Apuan Alps in Italy. This type of Grand Tour item was purchased and shipped back home. From a Padenarum Mass. private residence of note. Price for the pair: $7,950.00.
# 4836. A Grand Tour Roman Table Lamp. Late 19th century. A copy of a period Ancient Lamp from Rome. Bronze. Size: app. 14" tall; 5" across at the feet. Three hoofed feet each with ram head decoration support and foliate lower plinth in which a reeded and twisted column supports the oil font which has two wicks. Condition: The column is slightly bent; the oil font cover has a chain that is meant to be attached to the foliate crest: the chain link has been separated from the foliate crest. Signed: "L.CHIALI". Price: $1,650.00.
# 5193. A Bronze Obelisk. Marked and made by Tiffany & Company. Copyright 1881 by Henry H. Gorringe and transcribed with information about the four crabs supports. This is a copy of "Cleopatra's Needle" which was moved to New York City. The obelisk stands behind the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The move and installation of the obelisk was paid for by William H. Vanderbilt. It was erected in New York January 22, 1881. This model was made in a limited edition to be given to individuals who were involved in the removal and installation of the obelisk from Egypt to New York. Size: 15.15" tall with a 3.25" square base. Condition: two base corners are slightly dented, probably caused by the obelisk being dropped; the information plate on the underside has become 'loose' and can be removed. The obelisk stands firmly on a table without wobbeling. The patina may or may not be original: we suspect that from time to time, this example was polished. .This obelisk has been sold.
LH3. A fine 18th century carved wood statue of a woman. Limewood with scuffed old painted surface; considerable worm hole damage. Structurally sound and will free stand. Size: 69" tall with the base app. 20" x 20". Probably French, possibly German or Austrian. Old breaks, fractures and some losses. A fine and unusual life size carved wood figure from Europe. Price: $19,500.00.
# 4621. A Gothic / Grand Tour / Miniature Salesman Sample Monument. Size: app. 21.5" tall; footprint: app. 5 7/8" square. Material: marble or slate. Age: pre 1850's. Condition: various scratches, nicks and abrasions consistent with use and age. This rare item comes in two sections with the upper section in the form of an obelisk sits into the base section. This item was meant to represent a miniature of an actual cemetery monument. Perhaps it was used in an office of a tombstone cutter. The proportions are exact and accurate: the maker excelled in the ability to represent a miniature monument. Price: $1,500.00.
Other Grand Tour items in inventory:
A collection of photos of Venice taken around 1900 and sold to tourists. Each is about 9" x 12". Loose mounted on foam core with shrink wrap. Each sells for $95.00.
A small book of photos titled "Chateau de la Loire" which includes 10 carte de viste photos. c. 1870's. Price: $100.00.
ZSOLNAY // FURNITURE // GLASS //
PORCELAIN
// POTTERY // METAL
LIGHTING // PAINTINGS
// EPHEMERA // TEXTILES
// GOTHIC
// MISCELLANEOUS
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