English Garden Ornaments of Cast Lead
Goddess Minerva
The figure of the Goddess Minerva, the Roman goddess of craftsmanship, wisdom and arts, is an extremely rare original of John van Nost the Younger who sculptured and cast it around 1720. She is part of a pair with the figure of the Roman God Mars. John van Nost stood at the beginning of the great English tradition to create the most exclusive garden ornaments in lead. As lead outlasts the elements for centuries one can still find some of these precious originals in English gardens. If one of them ever makes its way into an auction at Sotheby's or Christie's it claims major attention and yields a top award. For more information on the material lead please take a look at our page Service.
There is no other material for garden ornaments that would reach the characteristics of lead. With their distinguished patina that developes over time lead ornaments perfectly blend into every natural garden setting. In almost every garden of the National Trust you can find figures, vases or planters made of lead. We are working with a small manufactuer who is specialized in making perfect reproductions by taking moulds of original antique ornaments and by hand casting them to finely detailed new originals.