19th Century Neoclassical Grand Tour Temple Rotundas in Noir Belge Marble, 1875

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A highly attractive matching pair of Victorian-era Grand Tour architectural souvenir models of classical colonnade temples, dating to circa 1875. … Read more A highly attractive matching pair of Victorian-era Grand Tour architectural souvenir models of classical colonnade temples, dating to circa 1875. Masterfully crafted during the height of the Neoclassical revival, each tempietto features a high-polished dome cap in Belgian black marble (Noir Belge) supported by five finely fluted columns adorned with parcel-gilt bronze accents. At the centre of each rotunda sits a beautifully cast patinated metal bust on shaped plinth, representing the divine mythological twins of classical Greco-Roman antiquity: Apollo (with stylized locks gathered tightly into a bandeau laurel wreath) and Diana (hair swept back into a classic low chignon bun). The underside of the bases beautifully preserves their historic authenticity, featuring original recessed plaster cores marked with matching model pattern numbers "103", alongside pencilled workshop assembly/fractional sequences ("1/2") used by the artisans to construct the pair. Secured internally by original 19th-century vertical iron tie-rods and square/hexagonal nuts.
This is a magnificent, mid-sized decorative set displaying outstanding visual gravitas. Perfectly suited for a library desk, bookshelf, or fireplace mantlepiece styling. This piece has an attribution mark,
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