Late 19th Century American Zinc Garden Fountain, Attributed to J. W. Fiske, New York

An incredibly beautiful late 19th-century American garden fountain, attributed to J. W. Fiske Iron Works of New York, one of the great names in American ornamental metalwork.

Founded in 1858 and working through the Victorian era in Britain and the Gilded Age in America, Fiske’s production reflects a period of extraordinary wealth, confidence and decorative exuberance. The company supplied elaborate fountains and architectural ornament for parks, corporations and grand estates, while also offering designs through illustrated catalogues from which private clients could select individual fountains and components.

This fountain sits wonderfully within that tradition: elaborate enough to embody the flamboyance of the period, yet of a scale that could equally have been selected from the catalogue for a private garden.

The tiered fountain rises from a richly modelled naturalistic pedestal, with three herons amongst reeds, rocks and aquatic vegetation around the base. Two broad graduated basins are edged with scallop-shell motifs, creating beautiful movement when the fountain is running as water falls from one tier to the next.

Particularly unusual is the survival of the large circular cast-zinc pond basin, allowing the fountain to be installed as a complete garden feature rather than requiring a new pool to be constructed around it. The fountain comes apart into two principal elements: the tiered fountain itself and the separate zinc pond basin.

Fiske fountains were produced using modular components — pedestals, basins, figures, sprays and terminals could be combined in different configurations. The distinctive bird and aquatic pedestal seen here corresponds closely with documented J. W. Fiske designs and appears within the firm’s period catalogue material in alternative fountain arrangements. A corresponding period catalogue illustration is included amongst the photographs.

The fountain retains extensive layers of old exterior paint, now naturally flaking and weathered to reveal areas of the blue-grey zinc beneath. Rather than detracting from the piece, this surface is a wonderful testament to its long history outdoors and gives it tremendous character.

It’s scale it is wonderfully versatile. It has sufficient presence for a larger landscape while remaining beautifully proportioned for a smaller walled garden, courtyard or terrace.

A highly decorative and collectable piece of American garden design history, combining sculptural quality, wonderful surface and the considerable advantage of retaining its separate pond basin.

Dimensions:
Overall height: 170 cm
Pond basin diameter: 150 cm
Maximum width of fountain: 84 cm