Serpentine tazza, a souvenir of the 19th-century Grand Tour.

Serpentine tazza, a souvenir of the 19th-century Grand Tour.
The oval serpentine basin features, at each end of its rim, two salamanders carved from the stone, appearing to climb into the bowl to drink. The underside of the basin is carved with an egg-and-dart motif radiating from the center of the foot. The basin rests on a square-shaped base, also made of serpentine, dating from the 19th century.
Such pieces were highly prized by Grand Tour travelers, as they evoked the historic sites and natural beauties encountered during their journeys, particularly in Tuscany, where serpentine stone was abundant.