This Italian 19th century handsome matched pair of antique black marble grand tour models represent two of the most intact antique monuments in Rome, two Roman columns: The Trajan's Column and Aurelian’s Column.

The column of Trajan (Italian: Colonna Traiana) is a triumphal column located in Rome near Imperial Forum on the Quirinal Hill built to commemorate the Emperor’s victory in the Dacian wars. The column of Marcus Aurelius (Italian: Colonna di MarCo Aurelio) is a Roman victory column located in Colonna Square in Rome. It is a Doric column built in honour of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius featuring a spiral relief depicting the story of his victorious Danubian wars, modeled on Trajan's Column.

These decorative statuettes, faithful reproductions of the enormous original columns, feature a hand-sculpted continuous narrative band frieze all around the tower from base to capital and a writing on their bases filled with yellow paste. Both columns rest on squared socle, one original antique dark red and brown veined marble and one lacquered wood as faux marble.

Throughout the 19th century, Italy, and Rome in particular, were a popular destination for intellectual tourists who wanted to discover the beauties of ancient classical art. The word “Grand Tour” is used to describe these cultural as well as fascinating and adventurous journeys that had Italy and its ruins as the preferred destination. The visitors during their Grand Tour were the main buyers of these sculptures and little works of art, gems created by master stone carvers with ancient marbles and stones, as souvenirs of their journey.

These delightful highly detailed roman columns are the memory of one of the most fascinating periods in history, memories of trips to lands rich in culture and art.

Measures: Height 33 cm, base 9 cm.