Garden Traditions - Barbara Israel

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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, 15 ins. wide and 15 ins. deep at bottom. Weight: 390 lbs. Retail price: $3,500

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. Weight: 30 lbs. Retail price: $360

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" high, 45.5" long, 17.5" wide. Weight: 400 lbs. Retail price: $3,000

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" high, 16" wide, 12.5" square at base. Weight: 320 lbs. Retail price: $5,100

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" high, 16" wide, 12.5" square at base. Weight: 285 lbs. Retail price: $5,100

Japanese Buddhist Monk After a ca. 1920 Japanese granite original of a monk figure 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" (bosatsu in Japanese). In Buddhism a bodhisattva is an enlightened being who forgoes nirvana to save others. 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" high, 21" overall width of base. Weight: 430 lbs. Retail price: $3,500

Cynara Finial A gate pier finial in the form of an artichoke, after an exceptional English 19th-century original. Dimensions: 36 inches high, 24.5 inches diameter of base. In an Aegean myth a young mortal woman named Cynara was seduced by Zeus but, after numerous trysts, chose to return to her mortal parents. Zeus was angered and transformed her into the plant that we know today as the artichoke. Perhaps because of this legend the ancient Greeks and Romans considered the artichoke a delicacy and an aphrodisiac. Weight: 485 lbs. Retail price: $2,750

Hawthorne Bench Adapted from an American example 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" high, 54" long, 21" deep. (in three parts) Weight: 300 lbs. Retail price: $1,700

Rosette Planter A planter of tapering cylindrical form with rolled rim and double banding, decorated with medallions, adapted from an early 20th-century original by the Pompeian Studios. Dimensions: 23 inches high, 22.75 inches inside diameter at top, 13 inches inside diameter at bottom. The original planter’s material, called "Pompeian Stone", was said to "closely resemble Indiana limestone in color, texture and durability". Weight: 200 lbs. Retail price: $750

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. Dimensions: 20" high, 16.75" wide, 10.5" deep (tip of nose to back), backplate 4" deep. Weight: 110 lbs. Retail price: $750

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" high, 22" diameter of bowl. Weight: 155 lbs. Retail price: $1,100

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. Male shishi 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" high, 14" wide, 26" deep (front to back). Weight: 350 lbs. each Retail price: $1,850 each

Mount Holly Squirrels A pair of woodland squirrels, with mother and young squirrel 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" high, 16" wide, 8" deep. Weight: 40 lbs. each Retail price: $460 each

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" high, 29" long, 17" deep. Weight: 200 lbs. Retail price: $1,300

Egremont Hare A crouching hare modeled after the ca. 1930 original found in Sussex, England, near the site of Lord Egremont's estate, Petworth House. Dimensions: 11" high, 18" long, 7.5" wide. Weigth: 55 lbs. Retail price: $420

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" high, 13.5" square at base. Weight: 200 lbs. Retail price: $500

Molded Pedestal A fine molded pedestal created expressly for the Hadrian Lion. 12 inches high, 50 inches long, 22 inches wide. Weight: 550 lbs. Retail price: $1,600

Pulham Pedestal A fine pedestal, after the stoneware original with exaggerated bead motif at base, marked "PULHAM, BROXBOURNE", English, ca. 1860. 23 inches high, 24 inches square at top, 31 inches square at base. Pulham’s Artificial Stones, founded in ca. 1840 by James Pulham, was based in Broxbourne (London) from 1843 to 1945. Weight: 750 lbs. Retail price: $1,900