Thursday, June 26, 2008

Manor Statuary




I was chatting with Rebecca over at Ladies' Historical Tea Society about vintage statuary. She posted lovely photos of her gorgeous garden statues and mentioned how she liked them to be ancient and look as though they came from an old cemetery. Well, those are my sentiments exactly, so I wanted to post pictures of my two old pieces. My little girl, (or maybe she's Pan? I can never decide) is over one hundred years old and comes from an old Ohio estate. I was so thrilled with her, that I went back to the antiques dealer and purchased a dog, which was also part of the same estate's collection. This spring,WT moved the girl to the back patio and it was no easy task. She is filled with iron and weighs a ton! So this is where she is going to stay, forever, according to him. Rebecca, there were no angels helping him move this one, at least visible ones, that is.

25 comments:

  1. Willow, I LOVE them! They're absolutely perfect and just the type that I love...They look perfectly at home where you've placed them as well. The dog in the hostas is sublime and the succulents and begonias at the foot of the pan/girl are exquisite. Thank you so much for posting them. You and Betsy both have wonderful taste..:)....

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  2. Willow...these are so perfect for the Manor...I totally agree...the older the better giving them that great old aged patina. I'll have to post my statuary soon...

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  3. Very nice mixed in with the greenery.

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  4. I guess I'll be forced to post my big pink cement Gorilla. Just kidding, Bebe wouldn't let me put it in the front yard. :)

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  5. Darn, Pappy! I wanted to see it. So if not the front yard, where did it end up? The garage or your tool shed? ;)

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  6. Awww...I still love her! She looks beautiful there!

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  7. It seems so right that both statues ended up at the same lovely place. I really love that dog!

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  8. I love, love, love your little girl. She is perfect, and I'm sure she graces the manor's patio quite nicely.

    Betsy knows how to give a gift!

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  9. I just love everything about cemeteries...well, that's beside the point here, tho cemeteries were mentioned in passing!

    Your statuary is beautiful. What thoughtful gifts you've received! Wish I'd get such a gift...sigh...

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  10. THey are both stunning Willow. I had a statue in my garden in the UK but had to leave it with my mum. So far I haven't seen one to inspire me to open my purse here yet!

    Btw - you are a double winner over at my blog my friend! Let's hope I am not accused of favouritism!

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  11. Hi Willow,
    I love your site and the pictures remind me of my garden back in England. The statues are very nice, it is so hard to achieve the weathered look on a new sculpture. Statuary like yours have a lived in, comfortable feel, that gardeners just love. I should know because I am a sculptor. I am the senior staff artist at a catalog called DesignToscano.com. Have you heard of us before? I specialize in Mystic and Gargoyles sculptures but I cut my teeth on classic images, much like what you show on your wonderful blog.
    Here is one of my favorite pieces I have done...
    http://www.designtoscano.com/product/code/NG33392.do

    Cheers!
    Liam

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  12. Willow you got to me before the second post was up, get back there quick!

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  13. tsannie, yes, we need to talk cemeteries! I love old tombstones, too.

    BritGal, double winner? Today must be my lucky day!!! And to think I was about to go to bed before all this excitement started! :):):)

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  14. Liam, yes, I have heard of Toscano! I just looked up your delightful sculpture online...he is fantastic! Thank you so much for your kind comments on my blog. Coming from an artist, they mean a lot. Cheers to you, too! :)

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  15. Could be Pan - it's hard to say....

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  16. First, some thoughts on movies. I loved the movie Angel at my table and also read extensively about Jane Frame after that. Last week I saw Brick Lane (now on circuit). I think you will love it - thought provoking story of Bangaladeshi immigrants in contemporary London.
    Love the garden statues. The statues in my garden are 'new' but a friend helped to age them. Paint them completely white. Take a dark green paint. Make it very runny. Paint a bit on the statue and rub with a cloth until you get the look you like. It is quite hard work but the next best thing to having the real McCoy! Enjoyed the visit to Willow Manor as always! Love Eleanor

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  17. Hi Willow, You asked awhile back about our 14 things swap - here's a link to the post

    29blackstreet.blogspot.com/2008/03/14-things

    maybe you'd like to participate the next time ... it really is great fun and the secret is how creative can you be with your package without spending much $$. Also a big reminder that it is SO much better to give than to receive.

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  18. Willow,
    Pan looks great where WT has given her "final" stay. Your home is so beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
    Have a great day in the Lord.
    The Bach

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  19. oh, willow, thanks so much for posting these photos. altho i don't have any of this type of ornamentation in my gardens i really do love them. i'm now on the lookout for one (or two!!!).

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  20. New statuary doesn't even come close, does it?

    Pan seems much more magical...love the dog, too

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  21. What a wonderful gift from Betsy! I love the sense of history those garden statues display. May they live another hundred years and bring you joy doing it!

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  22. Very cool. The right statue can really enhance a garden!

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  23. Love these statues. Yes, my sentiments too about wanting them to look old, like from a cemetery or something. And Betsy is your sister!! Man, I keep learning new things. I don't know one person in my family who blog and you have two at least!

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  24. Eleanor, I will have to check out Brick Lane. It sounds like something I would like. Thanks! :)

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Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.
― O. Henry (and me)