Pair 19th Century White Painted Cast Iron Garden Urns With Ring Handles and Masks

Details

Description

A substantial and highly decorative pair of 19th-century cast iron garden urns with figural masks, large pendant ring handles, and … Read more A substantial and highly decorative pair of 19th-century cast iron garden urns with figural masks, large pendant ring handles, and a beautifully weathered cream-painted surface.
Each urn has a broad flared rim above a deeply fluted body terminating in a strongly lobed lower section. Applied figural masks punctuate the bowl, while large ring handles hang from molded supports at the sides. Molded grape clusters and trailing vines decorate the base, which rests on a square plinth.
Cast in one piece, and the quality and weight of the casting are particularly notable. Each urn weighs approximately 70 pounds, giving the pair considerable presence and making them unusually substantial for their 19-inch height.
Especially appealing is the old cream-painted surface, weathered from years of outdoor use. Areas of worn paint reveal dark iron and oxidation beneath, while green patination has developed across portions of the surface. The variations bring out the fluting, masks, grapevine decoration, and other details of the casting.
The interiors show oxidation consistent with their use as planters, and each urn has a drainage hole. Wear, paint loss, oxidation, and weathering throughout are consistent with age and outdoor use and contribute to the character and appeal of the pair.
With their strong architectural form and manageable scale, the urns would be particularly effective as planters flanking an entrance, garden path, or terrace, and could also be used as decorative objects indoors or in a conservatory.
European, probably English, second half of the 19th century, circa 1870–1880.
Dimensions, each:
Height: 19 In.
Length: 20 In.
Depth: 18 ½ In. D
Width measured from outer edge of handle to outer edge of handle; depth measured from mask to mask.
Weight: Approximately 70 pounds each. See less