J's Garden Notes - Spring 2019

Antique Garden Ornament in 21st Century Britain

In this country, probably as far back as the 16^th century we began to look differently on our open spaces.  Building on the trends from other areas of Europe – particularly Italy and France, we started to move towards creating gardens for pleasure and ornament not just for growing vegetables, fruit and herbs.  These gardens were very much the privilege of royalty and the wealthy with the largest properties.  

Prior to that we know of there being orchards and vegetable gardens of religious houses and vines being grown – introduced by the Romans.  Possibly a few flowers but for ceremonial occasions only.

There was a change in the middle of the 16^th century where there was a time of peace and relative wealth.  Knot gardens became popular filled with flowers, games such as bowling were played and gardens began to be a place of enjoyment.  At this time, there was little garden ornament as we know it today.  Statuary, urns, fountains and sculpture was to come later in the Elizabethan time. 

Great gardens such as those at Hampton Court Palace were to be created in the 17^th century and landscape designers such as Kent and Lancelot Brown emerged.  Garden design and designers became very sought after.  Ornaments, statues and fountains began to be introduced, echoing the great gardens of Europe.

For the highest development in ornamental features for gardens we have to look to Italy at this time.  Many of our great artists in lead and stone were trained and developed in Europe, in the Low Countries or in Italy or France.  The appetite for and experience of quality sculptors and creators of garden ornament at that time was encouraged hugely by partakers in The Grand Tours of the 17^th and 18^th century.

A love of gardens and garden ornament has developed and deepened over time and the huge change in the use of garden ornament is that it is now enjoyed by all.  Gardens have become a pleasure for all of us to enjoy no matter how large or small.

Garden spaces mean so much to us today as we all live such fast pace lives. 

They have very important roles to play: 

The joy of growing - the simple pleasure of growing flowers and vegetables;

A place for eating and entertaining;

For playing games and exercise – family time;

The introduction of the sound of water - tranquility

A place to get away from life or noise -  a peaceful, quiet and calm space;

A place of beauty and nature.

Garden ornament plays an important part in creating these spaces tailored to individuals.  There is such a great choice of ornament too:  From more formal, traditional urns and statues to utilitarian antiquities that have had a working life, like stone water and feed troughs from farms and stableyards, staddle stones that used to, and sometimes still do, support granaries and barns, or mill stones from cider making or flour grinding processes.  The fact that copper can no longer be used in so many food making processes ie the making of cheese, brewing beer or making chocolate, has opened up all sorts of opportunities for gardens. 

Wonderfully shaped copper pots are appearing from the UK and Europe adding to the copper coppers we already use so much.  These new additions are proving to be really popular as planters, water features or pools and, being copper, add an extra benefit of the lovely green verdigris colour.

I very much believe that antiques in a garden, no matter how traditional or modern that garden space is, will bring with them a gravity, style, anchorage and character like no modern ornament can bring.   I also believe that an antique does look at home in, not only the most traditional but also the most modern, contemporary settings.  They just seem to belong.  I am often asked how a new ornament can be made to be like the antique.  On the surface things can be done to help it blend in but age and history is something that cannot be replicated, something that just simply takes time, weather, use and nature to create.

Gertrude Jeykll recognised the benefits of structure and ornament in the garden.  Her famous book Garden Ornament is a wonderful research tool.  She was keen to take time to reflect on materials which worked in our gardens in this country.  There is no doubt that when it comes to local stone, lead and copper, these materials just belong here.  She commented on how the white marble from Italy was very beautiful but did not necessarily sit comfortably in our gardens and was not always strong enough to cope with the climate here.  She says how lucky we are to have a wealth of stone from our own quarries and how well it works in British gardens and that one of the best materials for finer ornament here is lead.  “…..the surface of metal, with age and exposure, acquires a delightful patina of silvery grey that harmonises well with our garden evergreens.” 

Whatever your individual taste and need, ornaments give another dimension to a garden: 

Whether it’s a reason to walk down a path;  to stop and look;  the creation of sound with moving or bubbling water; a place to sit;  the framing of a gateway or entrance.  The whole dynamic of a garden space can be changed, brought to life and made complete by the simple addition of an antique ornament.

Echo Your Favourite Bits of Famous Gardens

If you have been to visit a garden and have taken inspiration from something that you have seen there, please ask us to see if we can try and replicate that for you in your garden.

This wonderful dripping water at Hidcote

 Gates and gateways

Centrepieces - sundials 

Lion head spouts into stone troughs or pools

Stone figures or urns on pedestals.  Fonts or bowls.

The Rill at Old Wollerton Hall

The components of these are all things that we come across in our travels and we can help you put the right combination together to achieve your idea.