Serpentine Marble Grand Tour Tazza

Executed in green serpentine marble, this extraordinary Italian tazza attributed to the workshops of famed Italian artist Benedetto Boschetti is a truly striking and rare Grand Tour memento. The square flaring dish is adorned by a dart molded rim with acanthus and swan carved corners, designed in homage to classical antiquity. No detail of the elaborate design is left unfinished, from the elegant fluting to the masterfully executed scale base.

Beyond its exceptional design, the tazza is even more desirable for its luxury material. The highly coveted serpentine stone likely hails from the hills and mountains surrounding Prato, Italy. This impressive stone, with its essentially ornamental function, is so sought after due to its extraordinary color, which can touch the different shades of green, from the lightest of hues to a nearly black emerald green. The darker hues, of which this sizable piece is crafted, is the most desirable of serpentine marble.

The remarkable tazza would certainly have been among the finest souvenirs of the Grand Tour, a venture undertaken by affluent members of English society to explore ancient cities, such as Greece, Rome, and sometimes even locales in the Near and Middle East, to explore their architecture, fine arts and culture. This piece would have been a fitting souvenir of this journey of a lifetime.

11 1/4” high x 5 1/4” wide x 5 1/4” deep