Pair of large obelisks in precious marble, Roman manufacture commissioned by the Savoy family, late 17th/early 18th century

This pair of obelisks can likely be traced back to a noble commission with ties to the Savoy family between the late 17th and 18th centuries, at a time when the House of Savoy was consolidating its political and symbolic role in Europe. In this context, numerous aristocratic families, court officials, high-ranking military personnel, and ecclesiastical dignitaries operating in the Savoy territories adopted iconographic elements attributable to the ruling dynasty as a sign of loyalty, belonging, and social legitimacy. The use of the white cross on a red field, the distinctive emblem of the House of Savoy, appears here in a deliberately simplified and isolated form, devoid of a crown, knightly collars, or other official dynastic attributes. This choice suggests a symbolic use, not an affirmation of belonging to the ruling House, but a declaration of loyalty and political support. It is plausible that the commissioning family, active in Piedmont or other territories subject to the House of Savoy, turned to a high-end workshop, perhaps Roman, where the workmanship of polychrome marble "in the ancient style" was particularly refined. Rome was, in fact, the privileged center for this type of production, and many works destined for the Savoy residences were executed there and then transported to Turin or other noble residences.

From this perspective, the obelisks emerge as a visual manifesto of dynastic loyalty and cultural adherence to the language of Baroque magnificence, in which the reference to classicism, the use of precious materials, and the presence of a clearly recognizable emblem contribute to defining the client's identity and ambitions. The Savoy cross, reduced to its essential symbol, thus becomes not only a heraldic symbol, but a discreet yet unmistakable political and cultural signal. 117 x 27 x 27 cm