Porphyry Medallion - Emperor

Porphyry medallion depicting a Roman emperor

Oval medallion carved from speckled brown porphyry, decorated with the right profile of a bearded man wearing a laurel wreath. The figure wears a cloak fastened with a fibula. Bas-relief sculpture, inspired by antiquity.

This type of object is part of the tradition of artistic souvenirs brought back during the Grand Tour, an initiatory journey undertaken by young European aristocrats from the 18th to the early 19th century. Italy, and in particular Rome, was an essential stopover, where these travelers acquired objects evoking classical antiquity: cameos, busts, medallions and other artifacts in marble, alabaster or porphyry. These pieces, often made by specialized workshops, served as both scholarly testimonies and social markers upon their return.