Pair of obelisks. France, 19th century

Pair of obelisks. France, 19th century.
Marble.
One of them has a break at the tip.
Measurements: 48 x 11 x 11 cm.
The obelisk is a decorative piece that is highly appreciated all over the world. It is a stone monument in the shape of a pillar, with a square cross-section and four equal, slightly converging trapezoidal faces, topped by a small pyramid. Obelisks were used prominently in Ancient Egypt.
This pair of obelisks could be dated to the 'Grand Tour', a term that first appeared in Richard Lassels's 'Voyage d'Italie', used to define the long journey through Europe, especially Italy, which was usually undertaken by young British aristocrats from the 17th century onwards, but especially throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. The purpose of the journey was for young people to become acquainted with the art and culture of mainly France and Italy, to admire classical art at first hand, to learn or improve their knowledge of languages, and to establish contacts and relationships with the cultural and political elites of these countries. Travellers were often looking for pieces with which to start their own art collections, objects to take back to their places of residence as souvenirs. For this reason, workshops specialising in the replication of Roman pieces, both in bronze and marble, sprang up, some of which acquired a great reputation.