{"title":"Italian Marble Decorative Arts","description":"\u003ch2\u003eWhat Is Italian Marble Decorative Arts?\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eItalian marble decorative arts includes ornamental works that turn stone into an expressive interior element. The category can encompass boxes, desk pieces, vessels and sculptural objects whose appeal rests in color, veining, carving and polish. Italian examples often feel especially assured because the country’s long relationship to stoneworking gives even small objects a strong architectural presence.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhy Marble Is So Compelling\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eMarble offers weight, permanence and natural variation that no applied decoration can fully replicate. Veining, hue and finish all shape the object’s personality, which means each piece has a distinct presence. For collectors of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/rauantiques.com\/collections\/objets-d-art\"\u003eObjets d’Art\u003c\/a\u003e, marble works bring a tactile and visual richness that reads differently from glass, silver or bronze.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eMaterial, Finish and Design\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe best Italian marble decorative arts objects rely on more than beautiful stone alone. Form, proportion and finishing are just as important. Clean edges, balanced mounts and a thoughtful relationship between carving and material all suggest quality. Because marble carries its own drama, restraint in the design can often make a piece more successful rather than less.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhat Collectors Should Look For\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eCondition, structural stability and the quality of the stone should all be considered carefully. Chips, cracks, restored edges and insensitive polishing can affect both integrity and appearance. Collectors also look for a convincing connection between the object’s form and the marble selected for it, since strong examples use the material as part of the design rather than as ornament alone.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eM.S. Rau and Italian Marble Decorative Arts\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eM.S. Rau selects Italian marble decorative arts for material beauty, craftsmanship and decorative presence. We look for pieces that preserve the authority of stone while offering real refinement in finish and form. Within the wider \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/rauantiques.com\/collections\/antiques\"\u003eAntiques Collection\u003c\/a\u003e, they add texture, gravitas and a classical decorative note.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat falls under marble decorative arts? The category generally includes ornamental marble objects made for display, use or cabinet presentation.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhy is Italian marble especially appealing? Italy’s long stoneworking tradition gives many objects a particularly confident handling of material and form.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat should buyers inspect first? Cracks, chips, repairs, polish and the quality of the marble itself are all important.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDoes veining affect desirability? Yes. Veining can shape the visual character of an object and often contributes significantly to its appeal.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAre mounted marble objects harder to assess? They can be, since both the stone and the mount should be reviewed for originality and stability.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHow should marble decorative arts be displayed? They work well on consoles, desks, mantels and in cabinets where the stone can be appreciated at close range.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"tomb-of-the-scipios-grand-tour-souvenir","title":"Tomb of the Scipios Grand Tour Souvenir ","description":"This incredible Grand Tour inkwell relic takes the form of the ancient Tomb of the Scipios, a family of Roman war heroes and generals. Beautifully carved entirely of Siena marble, the inkwell's design is masterful and precise to the original monument, even down to the inscription. Simply remove the lid to reveal a pair of ink wells and a pen holder. The Tomb of the Scipios was erected around 150 B.C.E. Widely copied many times and produced as a model along with other ancient monuments, it was a particular favorite of those on the Grand Tour in the 18th and 19th century when such models were purchased as souvenirs.\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nCirca 1880\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n8\" wide x 2 1\/4\" deep x 4 1\/4\" high \n ","brand":"M.S. Rau","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43873354121351,"sku":"30-4919","price":14500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0083\/2471\/0466\/files\/30-4919_1.png?v=1770665368"},{"product_id":"grand-tour-siena-marble-columns","title":"Grand Tour Siena Marble Columns","description":"This elegantly crafted pair of Grand Tour models evoke the lasting grandeur of ancient Rome. Produced in Rome in the second half of the 19th century, the exquisite architectural models were likely a souvenir from the Grand Tour of an affluent tourist. The ruins of the temples of ancient Rome were considered the grandest examples of Roman architecture, and diminutive models such as this one were among the most sought after souvenirs. Crafted of Siena marble, the duo is a lasting relic of the extraordinary grandeur of the ancient world.\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nCirca 1880\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n6” high x 2 1\/2” diameter","brand":"M.S. Rau","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41237956460679,"sku":"30-4257","price":2985.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0083\/2471\/0466\/files\/30-4257_1.png?v=1717921298"},{"product_id":"17th-century-italian-carved-marble-plaques","title":"17th-Century Italian Carved Marble Plaques","description":"Incredibly well-preserved and stunning in their execution, this pair of marble plaques depict St. Jerome and Mary Magdalene. Hard-carved in Italy in the mid-17th century, these pieces epitomize the dramatic forms that took shape during the Baroque Period. Unlike the preceding Renaissance Period, which prized perfection of form above all else, the Baroque Period heralded in an era of theatricality in art. These figures, in their slightly twisted, dramatic poses, exude that sense of dynamic movement that was so prized.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nEach depicted with skulls and crosses, these images of St. Jerome and Mary Magdalene suggest a dramatic moment of repentance and prayer. The expressive, beautifully detailed images form a wonderfully emotional and spiritual image that is typical of the period.\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBeautifully crafted, this pair is a true rarity. Not only are decorative works from this period increasingly difficult to find on the market, they are also exceptionally scarce due to their frailty.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nItalian, Circa 1670\u003cbr\u003e\n12\" high x 14\" wide x 2 1\/2\" deep","brand":"M.S. Rau","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42215160316039,"sku":"30-2084","price":38500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0083\/2471\/0466\/files\/30-2084_1_7d15ef84-bc9d-4b53-b2f2-6381f6763f98.png?v=1736115784"},{"product_id":"grand-tour-marble-and-ormolu-obelisks","title":"Grand Tour Marble and Ormolu Obelisks","description":"Perfectly proportioned and impressive in size, this striking pair of obelisks is crafted from specimens of rosso antico and Siena marble with ormolu accents. The duo were almost certainly made in Italy in the 19th century during the height of the Grand Tour, when the fervor for all things ancient pervaded the decorative arts. Egyptian-inspired objects such as these were particularly prized, especially those crafted in fine examples of Italian hardstones.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Interest in Egyptian art first began to grow in the 1790s when Napoleon invaded Egypt, which lead to an influx of Egyptian art and design into French culture. The acquisition of Egyptian-inspired decorative arts, particularly those of such quality materials, was a pursuit in which only the most privileged members of society initially indulged, and the wealthy filled their drawing rooms with the new, extravagant decor. The fervor for Egyptian-style art and architecture continued to grow over the coming decades, and the style remains highly fashionable among both collectors and designers today. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Circa 1850 \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 4 5\/8\" wide x 4 5\/8\" deep x 34 1\/2\" high","brand":"M.S. Rau","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43672870420615,"sku":"31-0206","price":24500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0083\/2471\/0466\/files\/31-0206_1_3724cee9-53e5-4149-adbc-a246e84f265a.png?v=1767207132"}],"url":"https:\/\/rauantiques.com\/collections\/italian-marble-decorative-arts.oembed","provider":"M.S. Rau","version":"1.0","type":"link"}