Obelisks were first erected in ancient Egypt circa 2100 BC and were the sacred symbol of the sun god of Heliopolis. The shape, a tall four-sided narrowing square section, each side incised with heiroglyphics, and topped with a pyriamid were representitive of a shaft of sunlight. They usually stood in pairs at the entrance to temples.

In the 18th century, oblisks on pedestals appeared as a garden ornament and by the end of the 18th century were also become popular as funerary ornaments in tombs or memorials.

During the Victorian period a pair of miniature obelisks became a favourite souvenir of the Grand Tour. Common sizes varied between 35 cm and 80 cm and they were usually made in various coloured marbles, and more uncommonly in rock crystal, malachite, slate and onyx.

If the description of an obelisk does not include a date, it is likely the item is more...

53 items found:

These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

An impressive pair of Italian Grand Tour pietra dura and…

Italian Grand Tour pietra dura obelisks, 19th century, 78 cm

An impressive pair of Italian Grand Tour pietra dura and specimen hardstone inlaid obelisks, 19th century, 78 cm high

Pair vintage carved stone ornamental obelisks each displaying a…

Vintage Yellow Stone Obelisks on Black Base Pair Set

Pair vintage carved stone ornamental obelisks each displaying a yellow carved stone obelisk, on a black carved stone base, height 46 cm each.

Obelisks: antique variegated green marble ornament, together…

Pair of 19th Century Marble and Bronze Obelisks

Obelisks: antique variegated green marble ornament, together with a solid cast bronze example, 19th century, 29 cm and 19 cm high

Pair of neo-classical malachite obelisks, with applied metal…

Malachite obelisks with metal floral motifs and raised feet

Pair of neo-classical malachite obelisks, with applied metal decorative floral motifs, and raised metal feet, one set of feet detached, one minor chip to base (A/F) (2), height 51 cm. Provenance: Private Collection, Sydney

Cerri Nestore three piece desk set, Travertine set comprising…

Cerri Nestore Travertine Three-Piece Desk Set, 1960s Italy

Cerri Nestore three piece desk set, Travertine set comprising of a sphere, obelisk and desk organiser. Retain stickers. Italy, c 1960s, sphere: 9 cm high, 9d, obelisk: 15 cm high, 7.5 cm wide, 7.5d, desk organiser: 8 cm high, 30.5 cm wide, 7.5 cm deep

A pair of granite obelisks, Italian 19th century height: 63 cm,…

Italian 19th Century Granite Obelisks: 63cm Height, 13x13cm Base

A pair of granite obelisks, Italian 19th century height: 63 cm, base: 13 x 13 cm

Polished stone obelisk, on fitted wood stand, height 23 cm.

Polished Stone Obelisk on Wood Stand (23cm)

Polished stone obelisk, on fitted wood stand, height 23 cm.

19th century pair of Sienna marble obelisks, with black slate…

Sienna Marble Obelisks with Slate Base, 19th Century (a/f)

19th century pair of Sienna marble obelisks, with black slate skirting and foot, a/f (chips to slate corners and minor chip to top of one), height 45 cm (2)

Two Venetian glass prism obelisks, circa 1980, the largest 24.5…

Pair of Venetian Glass Obelisks, 1980

Two Venetian glass prism obelisks, circa 1980, the largest 24.5 cm high

Large glass obelisk, in yellow/ brown tones, with hollow core,…

Yellow/Brown Glass Obelisk, 30cm Height, Hollow Core

Large glass obelisk, in yellow/ brown tones, with hollow core, height 30 cm

Yellow opaline glass obelisk, a/f (small chip to one corner of…

Yellow Opaline Glass Obelisk, 30 cm Height (A/F)

Yellow opaline glass obelisk, a/f (small chip to one corner of base), height 30 cm

Chartreuse opaline glass obelisk, height 31 cm

Chartreuse Glass Obelisk - 31cm Height

Chartreuse opaline glass obelisk, height 31 cm

Pair of 20th century brass obelisk, with tapered facetted tops…

Brass Obelisks: 20th Century Pair

Pair of 20th century brass obelisk, with tapered facetted tops above stepped square bodies, height 17 cm (2)

Pair of 19th century Sienna marble obelisks, height 45 cm, a/f…

Sienna Marble Obelisks, 19th Century (Pair)

Pair of 19th century Sienna marble obelisks, height 45 cm, a/f (2)

Green glass obelisk, height 24 cm

24cm Green Glass Obelisk

Green glass obelisk, height 24 cm

Pair of 19th century Sienna marble obelisks, of tapering form,…

Pair of Sienna Marble Obelisks, 19th Century

Pair of 19th century Sienna marble obelisks, of tapering form, height 45 cm, a/f (2)

Beautiful pair of late 19th century pietra dura obelisks, of…

19th Century Pietra Dura Obelisks with Floral Inlays

Beautiful pair of late 19th century pietra dura obelisks, of typical form, in black slate inlaid with floral motifs in malachite, lapis, jade and agate, on stepped square bases, a/f, height 24 cm (2)

An Egyptian style black basalt obelisk, 19th century, 41 cm high

19th Century Black Basalt Egyptian Obelisk, 41cm High

An Egyptian style black basalt obelisk, 19th century, 41 cm high

An Egyptian style engraved obelisk, 19th century, 45 cm high

Engraved Egyptian Obelisk - 19th Century

An Egyptian style engraved obelisk, 19th century, 45 cm high

A pair of marble specimen inset obelisks, 20th century, each of…

Malachite Inset Marble Obelisks on Verdi Marble Bases

A pair of marble specimen inset obelisks, 20th century, each of typical form, inset with various stones including malachite, mounted on verdi marble bases. Provenance: The private collection of the Count and Countess Krasicki V Siecin. 103 cm high

Large stone obelisk with metal embellishments 30 by 30, 120 cm.…

Cracked Base Obelisk with Metal Embellishments

Large stone obelisk with metal embellishments 30 by 30, 120 cm. Base cracked

A pair of slate obelisks, on square stepped basses. Height 55…

Slate Obelisks on Stepped Bases (5 words)

A pair of slate obelisks, on square stepped basses. Height 55 cm.

A pair of marble obelisks, height 46 cm, width 11 cm, depth 10…

Marble obelisks, 46 cm tall

A pair of marble obelisks, height 46 cm, width 11 cm, depth 10 cm

Good Malachite obelisk form obelisk on stepped base, height 19…

Malachite Obelisk on Stepped Base - 19cm Height

Good Malachite obelisk form obelisk on stepped base, height 19 cm.

Collection of various polished stone's & obelisks including…

Polished Stone Collection: Agate, Quartz & Obelisks

Collection of various polished stone's & obelisks including Agate and Quartz

A Victorian black marble pietra dura inlaid obelisk, inlaid…

Victorian Gemstone Inlaid Black Marble Obelisk

A Victorian black marble pietra dura inlaid obelisk, inlaid with various gemstones & hardstones including lapis & malachite, plinth decorated with white flowers, height 36 cm, plinth 10 cm square

Decorative Obelisk and ball on a timber stand in a lapis lazuli…

Lapis Lazuli Obelisk on Timber Stand

Decorative Obelisk and ball on a timber stand in a lapis lazuli colouring, height 51 cm, tallest

A pair of French style metal obelisks 20th century brass finial…

French-style Metal Obelisks with Brass Finials and Decorated Plinths

A pair of French style metal obelisks 20th century brass finial on top, mounted on decorated plinths, set on stepped square bases height: 55.5 cm

Louis XVI style ormolu mounted marble obelisk mantel clock…

Louis XVI Style Obelisk Mantel Clock with Ormolu Mounts

Louis XVI style ormolu mounted marble obelisk mantel clock Mid-19th century, the white enamel circular dial with Arabic numerals, signed 'Autray a Paris', beneath an eagle finial, the front inset with a high relief of classical figures, and a plaque…

A pair of Moroccan bone inlaid obelisks 31 cm high

Moroccan Bone Inlaid Obelisks (31cm)

A pair of Moroccan bone inlaid obelisks 31 cm high

A small bronze after Jean Garnier - Pecheuse De Crevettes (the…

Bronze Shrimp Fisherwoman by Jean Garnier

A small bronze after Jean Garnier - Pecheuse De Crevettes (the Shrimp Fisherwoman), depicting a young fisherwoman, raised on a rectangular base with an obelisk boat tie, signed J. Garnier, the base with a tag bearing the title and reading 'Par J. Garnier…

Three Victorian fancy seal fobs, formed as teapots, coffee pot…

Victorian Tea and Coffee Seal Fobs

Three Victorian fancy seal fobs, formed as teapots, coffee pot and obelisk

A New Zealand cast glass sculpture, short obelisk form, deep…

Intaglio Obelisk: Architectural Glass Sculpture

A New Zealand cast glass sculpture, short obelisk form, deep intaglio cast with architectural forms, frosted and polished surfaces. Maker's mark 'V' and dated 200 cm, height 16 cm.

A pair of white and black marble mantel obelisks, height 43 cm

White and Black Marble Mantel Obelisks (43 cm)

A pair of white and black marble mantel obelisks, height 43 cm

A crystal obelisk with pagoda decoration, height 30 cm

Pagoda Obelisk Crystal - 30cm Height

A crystal obelisk with pagoda decoration, height 30 cm

Pair of black figured marble obelisks, 45 cm high

Black Marble Obelisks Pair - 45cm

Pair of black figured marble obelisks, 45 cm high

Two pairs of lead crystal obelisk by Gerald Gulotta (American B.…

Gerald Gulotta Crystal Obelisks (Set of 4)

Two pairs of lead crystal obelisk by Gerald Gulotta (American B.1921), Tallest measuring 27 cm (4)

Pair of concrete garden obelisks, 45 cm high

Concrete Garden Obelisks - 45cm Pair

Pair of concrete garden obelisks, 45 cm high

A pair of Italian mirrored obelisks, with leather base and gilt…

Italian Mirrored Obelisks with Gilt Crests and Leather Base

A pair of Italian mirrored obelisks, with leather base and gilt crest on each side. Height 77 cm

A pair of green marble obelisks, raised upon a short square…

Green Marble Obelisks on Black Plinth

A pair of green marble obelisks, raised upon a short square section and supported on a black marble cube form plinth. Height 38.5 cm

Pair of large decorative obelisks, Ex Leo Schofield collection,…

Leo Schofield's Large Obelisks (Set of 2)

Pair of large decorative obelisks, Ex Leo Schofield collection, each 81 cm high (2)

Black and gilt obelisk

Gilded Obelisk

Black and gilt obelisk

Faceted crystal obelisk, height 41 cm

41cm Crystal Obelisk with Faceted Design

Faceted crystal obelisk, height 41 cm

A collection of fourteen coloured and clear glass obelisks…

Collection of Coloured Glass Obelisks with Reverse-Cut Designs

A collection of fourteen coloured and clear glass obelisks seven with a reverse-cut design of an urn with painted flowers, four with a reverse-cut design of a pagoda, one with a reverse-cut design of a turned support, and two with recessed panels, (chips…

A matched pair of marble specimen inlaid obelisks each tapering…

Geometric Inlay Marble Obelisks - Matched Pair

A matched pair of marble specimen inlaid obelisks each tapering rectangular with geometric inlay, 103 and 102 cm high

Pair of ebony obelisks, 52 cm high

Ebony Obelisks, 52cm High

Pair of ebony obelisks, 52 cm high

A large pair of stone obelisks and a large marge sphere on…

Stone Obelisks and Sphere Set

A large pair of stone obelisks and a large marge sphere on stand, 50 cm high and 20 cm diameter

A Waterford Crystal centre bowl, a Waterford Crystal obelisk…

Waterford Crystal Bowl and Obelisk Set

A Waterford Crystal centre bowl, a Waterford Crystal obelisk and a pressed glass footed bowl the Waterford bowl 27.5 cm diameter

A pair of gentleman's library tobacco leaf mounted limewood…

Tobacco Leaf Obelisk Pair: Gentleman's Library Decor

A pair of gentleman's library tobacco leaf mounted limewood obelisk, some losses 94 cmhigh

Sodalite obelisk 27 cm high

27cm Sodalite Obelisk

Sodalite obelisk 27 cm high

A pair of black painted and brass obelisks 40 cm high

Brass and Black Obelisks - 40cm

A pair of black painted and brass obelisks 40 cm high

A pair of faux porphyry and gilt obelisks 47 cm high

Faux Porphyry and Gilt Obelisks (47 cm)

A pair of faux porphyry and gilt obelisks 47 cm high

A fine and impressive pair of mirrored obelisks, French, circa…

French Mirrored Obelisks, 1950s

A fine and impressive pair of mirrored obelisks, French, circa 1950, 182 x 47 x 47 cm