Vase - Patinated bronze - Warwick Vase – Grand Tour

Warwick Vase – Rare grand tour reduction in solid bronze with removable inner basin – 19th century

Refined and important nineteenth-century reduction of the famous Warwick Vase, realized in solid bronze, finely cast and chased, following one of the most iconic and sought-after archaeological models of the European Grand Tour culture.
The work reproduces, at contained dimensions, the famous composition of the Warwick Vase, a monumental Roman vase decorated with Bacchic subjects, discovered in the XVIII century in the area of Villa Adriana in Tivoli and subsequently one of the most celebrated models of classical antiquity. During the nineteenth century the subject enjoyed particular fortune among travelers and collectors of the Grand Tour, giving rise to precious bronze reductions produced mainly by Italian and French manufactories.
This specimen presents a particularly rich and articulated casting. The cup is adorned along the body with a succession of bearded masks and male heads in high relief of Bacchic character, alternated with vegetal and symbolic elements. The surfaces preserve a beautiful dark patina, with slight chromatic variations that naturally emphasize the depth of the modeling.
Striking are the features of the multiple intertwined handles, modeled as fluted vine shoots that wind and knot laterally to the cup: one of the most recognizable elements of the Warwick Vase iconography. The upper rim is punctuated by a rich sequence of egg-and-dart motifs, while the lower part rests on an elegant circular flared foot with acanthus detailing.
Particularly interesting is the presence of the original removable inner metal basin, perfectly contoured to fit with a snap fit inside the bronze structure. The basin retains evident traces of the ancient gilded finish and can be easily extracted, as documented in the photographs. This constructive solution finds precise comparisons in the nineteenth-century, higher-quality reductions of the Warwick Vase, in which the inner container was made separately and inserted into the main body.
The quality of the casting is remarkable especially in close-up details: beards, coiffures, features of the bearded masks, leaves, vegetal elements, acanthus and handles show accurate execution and notable plastic richness.
The original Warwick Vase, the model’s source, is a monumental Roman marble vase with Bacchic decorations, found at Villa Adriana around 1771 by Gavin Hamilton; the model enjoyed enormous success in neoclassical decorative arts and in productions intended for Grand Tour collectors. The original is today conserved in the Burrell Collection of Glasgow.

Era: 19th century
Scope: Grand Tour, probably European/Italian
Model: Warwick Vase, derived from an ancient Roman prototype
Material: patinated solid bronze; removable inner metal basin with traces of gilding
Maximum width: 24 cm
Height: 14.5 cm
Depth: 16.3 cm
Weight: about 2.6 kg

The object presents a natural patina and normal signs of aging compatible with its age. The inner basin shows wear and partial loss of the ancient gilding. Such characteristics contribute to the charm and historical readability of the work; viewers are advised to study the photographic documentation carefully.
For proportions, weight and decorative richness it is a strongly sculptural piece despite its compact size. It can be used as an important centerpiece element, on a sideboard, a bookshelf, or within a contemporary setting, where dark bronze and the archaeological repertoire create a particularly sophisticated contrast.
Photos are an integral part of the description.
Packing will be handled by Ankerior, specialized in packing and handling of artworks, with training and certification from Palazzo Spinelli, Florence.