Cast Iron Lion Fountain Element or Spout from France, 20th Century

Although when most people hear the word “gargoyle”, they probably envision small, winged creatures with grotesque visages. However, the phrase has a deeper meaning, encompassing any carved head (animal or human) that function as waterspouts. From the Early Renaissance (late 1400’s/early 1500’s), our gargoyle fountain spout features a human-like face with pointed ears, possibly representing a centaur or a satyr. The roughly rectangular block of marble was hand-carved in Arezzo, in the Tuscany region of Italy. All sides except the front of the cream-colored stone have a sawed finish, resulting in a rough texture. The back has been excavated, adding to the character of the gargoyle. A 1 ½” diameter hole has been cut all the way through, forming an open mouth of the gargoyle. The gaping mouth was often a symbol used to conjure images of devouring giants and used to remind people that they are susceptible to certain forces. Our 15th/16th century marble...

This charming French fountain piece with triple dolphin spouts was made circa 1900. The dolphins are made from reconstituted stone, which is natural lim...

Monumental 19th century French water pump fountain made by Louis Jonet. This large cast iron piece would have been mounted above a large stone trough to catch water. Reminiscent of t...

Found on a farm in Normandy, France, this large scale mid nineteenth century painted cast iron pump features a spout detailed with an acanthus leaf moti...