Antique French Cast Iron Jardinière Planter, Louis XVI Style, 1880

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An exceptional and highly decorative antique French cast iron jardinière, or rectangular planter, embodying the timeless elegance of French garden … Read more An exceptional and highly decorative antique French cast iron jardinière, or rectangular planter, embodying the timeless elegance of French garden design.

This substantial planter presents a classic flared, sarcophagus form, raised on four ornate scrolled acanthus leaf feet. The body is richly embellished on all sides with exquisite relief ornamentation.

The front and back feature a prominent central floral rosette medallion encircled by a wreath of oak leaves and berries, tied with a ribbon bow - a classic Louis XVI motif. This is set against a ground of elegant vertical fluting. A decorative frieze with running scrollwork bisects the body, while the molded base is accented with a rope-twist molding. The everted top rim is bordered with a continuous band of stylized acanthus and laurel leaves.

The surface exhibits a magnificent, naturally aged patina built over more than a century - layers of original grey-white paint weathered to reveal warm rust undertones, with beautiful surface rust and verdigris that only authentic age can create. The interior shows heavy rust and mineral deposits from genuine garden use, with original drainage holes present. See less