Garden Traditions - Barbara Israel

Click on photos to see enlargements and multiple views.
Click here to view colors and finishes.

Donatello Lion Mask After Donatello's Marzocco lion, the heraldic symbol of Florence. Commissioned in 1418, the original lion is now part of the permanent collection of the Bargello National Museum in Florence. The Garden Traditions edition is cast from an American marble replica, ca. 1910, after the 15th-century Italian original. Piped for water. Slot on back allows for removable surface mounting. For permanent installation we recommend using a contractor or mason. Dimensions: 20 ins. high, 16.75 ins. wide, 10.5 ins. deep (tip of nose to back), backplate 4 ins. deep. Shown here in Weathered Granite.

Cynara Finial A gate pier finial in the form of an artichoke, after an exceptional English 19th-century original. In an Aegean myth Cynara, a young mortal woman, was seduced by Zeus but, after numerous trysts, chose to return to her mortal parents. Angered, Zeus transformed her into the plant we know today as the artichoke. Dimensions: 36 ins. high, 24.5 ins. diameter of base. Shown here in Limestone. The Cynara Finial is also available as a fountain, to be used with or without the adapted Pulham Pedestal. Drilled to take a 1/2 inch pipe.

Salem Rosette This refined circular ornament is cast from a 19th-century architectural rosette in the American Vernacular style. Its whirling floral form was a popular motif in stenciled and painted American furniture. It is available as a decorative element or fountainhead. Fitted for a 1/2-in. pipe. Dimensions: 16 ins. in diameter; 1 in. deep. Shown here in Weathered Limestone.

Lion of Hadrian An exceptional recumbent lion, with full mane and peaceful expression, after an English original of ca. 1890 found in England's Lake District. Available as a single, or as a proper pair with left and right oriented tails. Dimensions: 24 ins. high, 45.5 ins. long, 17.5 ins. wide. Shown here in Weathered Limestone.

Oakwood Dryad Cast after a bronze original from the Tudor Garden at Cressing Temple in Essex, England. This dryad, with his ring of oak leaves and branches, is after one of four spouts at Cressing that take the form of the Green Man, the medieval spirit of vegetation. Available as either a decorative element or fountainhead. Fitted for a 1/2-in. pipe. 13.5 ins. overall diameter, 4 ins. deep (front to back). Shown here in Weathered Granite.

Somerset Maiden A finely detailed figure of a maiden draped in classical robes with grapes and vines wound through her hair, holding a cornucopia in her arms and standing with one leg forward. Modeled after a carved stone English original of ca. 1880. Dimensions: 53 ins. high, 16 ins. wide, 12.5 ins. square at base. Shown here in Limestone.

Dorset Maiden The companion figure to the Somerset Maiden, standing with one leg forward, draped in classical robes with cascading flowers in her hair, one arm across her chest and the other supporting a floral swag. A faithful replica of a carved stone English original of ca. 1880. Dimensions: 53 ins. high, 16 ins. wide, 12.5 ins. square at base. Shown here in Limestone.

Walton Sundial A sundial pedestal cast from the carved Portland stone English original of ca. 1790, with bronze dial modeled after a mid-19th century English original, inscribed with the Garden Traditions wreath and the motto “I mark not the hours unless they be bright”. Dimensions: Pedestal 42 ins. high, base 15.5 ins. wide, 15.5 ins. deep. Shown here in Weathered Granite.

Goodwood Frog A frog fountainhead with animated expression and exaggerated contours, after a ca. 1930 English stoneware original manufactured by Doulton and marked “Royal Doulton/England”. Dimensions: 12.5 ins. overall height, base 10 ins. square. Shown here in Weathered Granite.

Japanese Buddhist Monk After a ca. 1920 Japanese granite original of a monk set on a circular lotus-flower base. The fingers of his proper right hand are posed to hold a staff and his proper left hand holds a wish-granting jewel identifying him as a "Jizo Bodhisattva". In Buddhism a jizo is a bodhisattva known as a protector of children, women, travelers and those who are suffering or afflicted, and is often depicted as a monk. Dimensions: 53 ins. high, 21 ins. overall width of base. Shown here in Granite.

Westford Spaniel A fine recumbent dog, with head turned slightly to the right and with front leg extended. After an American zinc original, ca. 1890, this model was termed the "French Dog" (No. 281) in the 1874 trade catalogue of J.W. Fiske (New York). Dimensions: 17 ins. high, 29 ins. long, 17 ins. deep. Shown here in Weathered Limestone.

Hawthorne Bench Adapted from an American example marked "Galloway Terra Cotta Co." that dates to ca. 1915, this elegant bench features a medallion frieze on the top and fluted volutes on the supports. The original bench is said to have come from the garden of Andalusia, the Biddle estate in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Dimensions: 19 ins. high, 51.5 ins. long, 19 ins. deep. Shown here in Limestone.

Mount Holly Squirrels A pair of woodland squirrels, with mother and young eating acorns on a rustic leafy base. The ca. 1940 Italian originals are from the Locust Valley, New York garden of Adele Lovett, wife of Robert A. Lovett, Secretary of Defense under President Truman. Dimensions: 15 ins. high, 16 ins. wide, 8 ins. deep. Shown here in Limestone.

Greenway Birdbath This well-proportioned birdbath includes a shallow bowl with stiff leaf motif supported by a wrythen baluster ornamented with gadrooning and acanthus leaves. Adapted from a ca. 1920 carved Bath stone English original. Dimensions: 33 ins. high, 22 ins. diameter of bowl. Shown here in Weathered Limestone.

Linden Squirrel Cast from a 19th-century original in Barbara’s personal collection. This squirrel was used as a decorative handle on cast-iron urns made by the Abendroth and S. S. Bent Foundries of New York. Dimensions: 6 ins. high, 3 ins. wide, 4.5 ins. deep. Shown here in Weathered Limestone.

Rosette Planter A planter of tapering cylindrical form with rolled rim and double banding, decorated with medallions, adapted and improved from an original attributed to the Galloway Terra Cotta Company of Philadelphia, ca. 1920. Dimensions: 23 ins. high, 22.75 ins. inside diameter at top, 13 ins. inside diameter at bottom. Shown here in Weathered Limestone.

Koji Lions A pair of Japanese guardian lions, after early 20th-century originals found at Barbara Israel's childhood home in Far Hills, New Jersey. Lions of this form—properly termed "shishi"—traditionally stand guard outside the gates of Japanese temples. Males are depicted with their mouths open (to scare off demons), while females are shown with closed mouths (to shelter and keep the good spirits). Dimensions: 31 ins. high, 14 ins. wide, 26 ins. deep (front to back). Shown here in Granite.

Egremont Hare A crouching hare modeled after the ca. 1930 original from Sussex, England, near the site of Lord Egremont's estate, Petworth House. Dimensions: 11 ins. high, 18 ins. long, 7.5 ins. wide. Shown here in Weathered Limestone.

Classical Wreathed Pedestal After an Italianate terra-cotta original decorated with classical wreath motif dating to ca. 1900. This plinth is recommended with the Somerset and Dorset Maidens. Dimensions: 20 ins. high, 13.5 ins. square at base. Shown here in Limestone.

Molded Pedestal A fine molded pedestal created expressly for the Lion of Hadrian. Dimensions: 12 ins. high, 50 ins. long, 22 ins. wide. Shown here in Limestone.

Pulham Pedestal A fine pedestal with exaggerated bead motif at base, after a ca. 1860 English stoneware original marked "PULHAM, BROXBOURNE". Pulham’s Artificial Stones, founded in ca. 1840 by James Pulham, was based in Broxbourne (London) from 1843 to 1945. Dimensions: 23 ins. high, 24 ins. square at top, 31 ins. square at base. Shown here in Limestone.