Garden furnishings at auction

By William Gregory MRICS Golding Young and Mawer.
‘Times are a changin’ and the term gardening leave has taken on a whole new meaning. For those caught at home with a garden in this lockdown period, the temptation to tend the plants and mow the lawn will result in some very tidy views.

Green fingers wanting to add to the effect can be used at online auctions to bid for the vast array of garden effects that regularly appear at the sale rooms.

Coalbrookdale is a name associated with decorative metal work. By the time of the industrial revolution the Shropshire village had became an important producer of iron and throughout the 19th century, decorative cast iron; this led to the production of some fine garden furnishings such as benches, tables, urns and even verandas.

The elegant castings using floral motifs and wooden slats make them a handsome addition to the garden. Campana urns bring a classical form and although originally displayed empty on terrace ends, today they are regularly used as floral planters both singly or in pairs. This can also be seen with Georgian lead wares and stone troughs.

The Victorian period produced a host of garden furnishings and effects, which continue to influence garden design. One such example is an early 20th century stone dog fountain drinking trough that recently sold at auction for £280.

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