Hand-carved in Italy during the 1800’s, this lobed basin was carved from travertine and painted a beautiful cream color.  Originally, it would have been made as a holy water stoup for a private chapel, affixed directly into the wall.  The thick, gadrooned lobes carved along the outside give the appearance of a stylized scalloped shell. On the back of the shell is an excavated block of travertine, which is how the basin would have been attached to the wall.  Today, this antique travertine basin can be used as decorative bowl or vide-poche. A vide-poche (literally “empty pocket”) is a small storage bowl for everyday items, such as car keys, loose change, wallets, etc.  A versatile item, it can also serve simply as an objet d’art  or even as a lovely soap dish.

CONDITION: Good antique condition with wear commensurate to age and use including minor nicks, surface buildup, and jagged surface where it was once attached to a wall.  See photos.