Zinc Garden Finial, France c.1890

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Zinc Garden Finial, France c.1890

About the Item

A handsome zinc garden finial from the Belle Epoque period in the Provencal region of France c.1890. The wonderfully charming shape of this garden element originally used to be the crowning top to a garden structure is a delight to behold. Zinc has been used continually since the nineteenth century in outdoor applications because of its extreme outdoor hardiness and imperviousness to weather. This attribute of not rusting despite being exposed to rain, sleet and snow is one of zinc's most attractive properties. As it is produced in sheets it is easily shaped around moulds and takes on any profile desired. In addition it is easy to weld the seams together to cover large areas with the zinc material. However, unlike lead, it cannot be melted and poured into a form to make a sculpture. In this example there is a combination of shapes that have been chosen to give a pleasing and compelling visual treat. The top of the finial is in the shape of an egg standing amongst outward folding petals. The slender shaft beneath has a slight outward taper and is decorated with a series of elaborately folded leaves with deckled edges. Further down the shaft there is a doughnut shaped ring with a larger vertical shaft of circular shape that ends in a squared base with slanted corners. This square shape was necessary because the finial was attached to the apex of a roof where it completed the overall design of the architecture. Now of course this is a fascinating object to display in its own right and possesses the elegant pale and silvery finish so desirable in some of today's monochromatic interiors where the emphasis is on texture and shape as opposed to a variety of colour. A handsome zinc garden finial from the Belle Epoque period in the Provencal region of France c.1890. The wonderfully charming shape of this garden element originally used to be the crowning top to a garden structure is a delight to behold. Zinc has been used continually since the nineteenth century in outdoor applications because of its extreme outdoor hardiness and imperviousness to weather. This attribute of not rusting despite being exposed to rain, sleet and snow is one of zinc's most attractive properties. As it is produced in sheets it is easily shaped around moulds and takes on any profile desired. In addition it is easy to weld the seams together to cover large areas with the zinc material. However, unlike lead, it cannot be melted and poured into a form to make a sculpture. In this example there is a combination of shapes that have been chosen to give a pleasing and compelling visual treat. The top of the finial is in the shape of an egg standing amongst outward folding petals. The slender shaft beneath has a slight outward taper and is decorated with a series of elaborately folded leaves with deckled edges. Further down the shaft there is a doughnut shaped ring with a larger vertical shaft of circular shape that ends in a squared base with slanted corners. This square shape was necessary because the finial was attached to the apex of a roof where it completed the overall design of the architecture. Now of course this is a fascinating object to display in its own right and possesses the elegant pale and silvery finish so desirable in some of today's monochromatic interiors where the emphasis is on texture and shape as opposed to a variety of colour.

Dimensions:
Height: 36 in (91.44 cm)Width: 10 in (25.4 cm)Depth: 10 in (25.4 cm)
Style:
Belle Époque (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Zinc
Place of Origin:
France
Period:
19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
c.1890
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Houston, TX
Reference Number:
Seller: BH84A1stDibs: U1112128668583