Romancing The Stone

Earlier in the spring we posted a piece called On Garden Ornamentation, it was a visual feast on all the different types of garden art and decor we have to offer here on the farm. You can see more about that here at the link. http://snugharborfarm.blogspot.com/2013/05/on-garden-ornamentation.html

Even with all the different materials and ornaments out there on the market, cast stone has romanced us over all the others. Whether planters, birdbaths or statuary this durable weatherproof material is a perfect for any home or garden.
The French began using molds and cast stone as early as 1138, followed by the British in the 19th century. At this time the British really took the material to a new level with huge productions of all their now extremely coveted antique stone pieces.  The trend became widely accepted here in the early 1900's with American factories opening up creating unique lines. There is no wonder why cast stone has been so popular for centuries. The "romantic quality' of such a material and pieces, cast stone ages with perfection and can easily fit in a classic or modern garden or home.
So here is a closer look at some of our favorite pieces shot in haunting and dreamy black and white so you get the detailed total affect .

Finials are classic architectural elements typically carved in stone and employed decoratively to emphasize the gable at the top, end, or corner of a building or structure. Architectural finials were once believed to act as a deterrent to witches on broomsticks attempting to land on one's roof! Well there are no witches flying around here but finials look amazing on pillars, the top of a wall, on a bookshelf as bookends or just a collection clustered as art shown above.

Stone busts and heads pictured below makes one think old Italian or English country gardens and estates. Typically they are statues depicting Greek or Roman deities and royalty. They often appear somber and add that deep classical element to whatever space they are displayed in. Again like the finals they look amazing in either your home or in your garden.

We also offer some religious statuary of different saints pictured above including St. Fiacre the patron saint of gardening amongst others. Buddhas of all different sizes and poses grace a stone bench. We think that both groupings could add a quiet peaceful quality to ones property.

Gargoyles perched guard on a stone wall might look haunting to you but, Gargoyles are said to frighten off and protect those that it guards from any evil or harmful spirits. So think of them as your watchdog to your spaces. They fit just as well on your front porch as they do hung on a garden wall or fence.

If you have a shade garden then cast stone woodland ornaments are the perfect pick. The faux-bois planters above would be beautiful tucked into a shady nook,  planted with ferns or simply topped off with moss. A stand of mushrooms below would happily be planted in them as well, or just plunked under a old tree as shown below.

If you have ever been to the farm before then you know we absolutely love animals, that's one reason we have so many in cast stone for you to take home. It runs the gamut here from stone owls, birds, and doves to little hedgehogs, frogs and turtles. They would be a pleasant site in any ones garden either down a path or on your mantel piece.

Not only do we have stone animals but stone vegetables too! We just received these timing festive cast stone acorns, corn, gourds, and pumpkins. Again they would be spectacular on the steps leading to your door or sprawled out the length of large dining table. The biggest plus, they will never spoil.

Finally its getting to that time of year again and if you thought the gargoyles were eerie check out some of the creepy and spooky pieces below, just in time for Halloween. Stone skulls, doll heads and even thumbs are gracing the barn just in time for our Halloween celebrations. People either love these pieces or don't and that goes the same for the staff here at the farm.

While either romantic, quirky or even creepy cast stone statuary completely can cast a spell on the viewer. It makes a statement and sets the tone for ones garden or home. A conversation piece or a special focal point we think everyone should own a piece or two and it can eventually become the perfect heirloom that can last generations.