Hand-carved in Italy, this circular lobed marble font basin would make a great 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 marble basin of this size might have originally been used in a Catholic church as a holy water vessel. The 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 marble, which is how the basin would have been affixed to a wall. The beautiful gold colored marble with tan and cream inclusions and brown veining has been carved with a quarter round recessed molding along the rim. A versatile item, our Italian marble basin can be used as a decorative bowl or object d’art. It can also be included in a bathroom installation, making a lovely soap dish or small rafraichissoir.

CONDITION: Good condition with fleabites and minor losses. Light buildup and rubs, specifically to the interior. To be used as a rafraichissoir or sink, a drainage hole would need to be carved.