Early 20th Century Cement Planter with Faux Wood Decoration and Pebbles, Rockery, France

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Description

Rectangular planter in sculpted cement, in the tradition of french rock gardeners. It gives the illusion of a rustic wooden … Read more Rectangular planter in sculpted cement, in the tradition of french rock gardeners. It gives the illusion of a rustic wooden crate, with its corner logs, bark frames, and four legs made from log sections.
the main face is distinguished by a decoration of gnarled branches crossed diagonally. These frame areas of white, ochre, and beige pebbles, embedded in the cement. The other, more understated faces imitate panels of vertical planks, within a bark frame interspersed with raised branch cuts. The handcrafted nature of the work is evident throughout: carved bark, knots, and tool marks.
a beautiful patina of age, with mosses, lichens, and shades of ochre to brick, completes the look. It will find its place in a garden, on a terrace, or indoors, as a houseplant. Faux bois, a garden art:
faux bois originated in france in the 19th century, with the rise of reinforced concrete. It became famous for its use in the furnishings of the buttes-chaumont park in paris, which opened in 1867. It then found its way into private gardens, where it enjoyed its golden age between 1870 and 1910.

origin: france
period: early 20th century (circa 1900-1930)
material: sculpted cement on a frame
dimensions: w. 56 cm × d. 40 cm × h. 43 cm
condition: very good antique condition, without cracks. Surface wear and erosion consistent with age, drainage holes in the base. Original patina, uncleaned. See less