Featured Antique Cast Iron Urns - Victorian? Vatican? almost 6' tall

Thanks for all the history - amazing!! Any recommendations on how to appraise or who to turn to for further identification? I do think they have value and would love to find them a new home where they can shine! But want to be able to describe them and understand where/when they are from if that's possible.

 

Does anyone recognize the woman's face at the top of the urn -- what it might represent? I thought that might be a Vatican symbol or cross behind her and she might have a headdress on?

 

I don't quite know what you mean, Sam. There is a Papal (Pope's) cross, which has three cross-bars, but I don't see that on your urn.

Papal cross:

 

Nice. But, you don't show the underside (which would not be easy to do). Might answer a few questions. One thing that grabs me is the lions at the bottom. They have their mouths open as if they might be spewing water. If so, perhaps they sat in a pond originally with water gushing from their mouths?

 

Sorry, I was referring to this image attached -- I thought this might be a woman with a symbol behind her possibly?

 

Just took another, closer look at the photos and I note that in the 7th photo down there appears to be some green oxidation? Perhaps the urns are bronze?

 

Yes, it is a woman, but I don't see a link with the Vatican. She has what looks like a shell shape behind her head, almost like a halo.

 

I just noticed too, and wonder if it's bronze. I will do the magnetic test to see what I learn. If it is Bronze -- is that more valuable then Cast Iron -- or does it tell us anything about where from or when from?

 

May well have been inspired by depictions of the Graces. The whole thing looks to me like a hodgepodge of pseudo-Renaissance decorations, someone's idea of what the Medici kept in the garden. There's no coherence to the designs, no hidden meanings.

I've heard of her: Betty Botter, right? The one who bought a bit of bitter butter?

 

"Thanks for ur feedback! So you think it's a replica or a hodgepodge, meaning not an antique with any interesting origin or depicted symbols? They are regal when u stand with them, and I just believe they must be antiques of another era...so I will keep looking for info."

as long as you refuse to answer my question about the place it was found or bought - it could even be a continental hodgepodge of the Historism or Victorian era; but I very much doubt that any American in his right mind would have paid for the transport.
as you see here it's a good conversation piece with much nonsense and blabla.

 

Would it hurt to tell Fid/us WHERE you acquired it from? If in the USA, naming the state would be nice so we can know if they were in a salt water area.

My suggestion of testing it with a magnet seems to have gone unanswered too - instead you fly off on the tangent of it being bronze. . .highly doubt that anyone would paint large bronze garden statues.

Edit to add: you did say 'rust' so will assume they are cast iron. Bronze doesn't rust. You also said they are 5'5" tall, so again we'll have to assume the USA.

 

That's the one! World famous, she is.

 

i don't believe my last reply posted correctly - so im trying again. sorry, new to the forum, learning the ropes. and appreciate everyone's feedback. did not mean to hold any info back -- my goal is to share what i can and see if anyone can help me determine if these might have a neat origin story. my folks own the urns. bought at an estate sale in NJ (they don't recall exact year, but early 1990s). the urns remained outside at the entrance of their home in NJ for 20+ years. they did not live near the shore (about 45 mins away). when they relocated to southern florida they transported the urns despite the weight and cost bc they really loved them. they've been in FL for about 15 yrs. one was inside their garage and the other was in the backyard underneath an extended porch which protected it from the rain. my folks are downsizing and while i would normally just include these w/ other furniture being consigned thru a store, i was intrigued when taking a closer look after all these years while photographing and thought perhaps there was a unique story here. the images seemed symbolic to me - i just am not sure symbolic of what? so i thought this group might be able to assist given ur extensive knowledge. im going to their home today to do the magnet test one person on the thread suggested to confirm if i can the type of material they are made of. i honestly do not know, could only go by what they were told at the estate sale which was they were made of cast iron and antique believed from the Victorian era but no paperwork to state that. my folks bought bc of how regal and beautiful they were. im just curious now, as i hope to find them a great new home, to understand better where/when they may have come from. Appreciate any further assistance. Thanks!

 

Magnet stuck to the urns in multiple areas tried. No failed attempts. My husband was able to lift the top part off (YAY!) and we could see inside the top part. It had no markings (like signature etc.) and it appears rusted. There are 3 "bolts" that appear to be holding the top part to the bottom part of the urn. I think this may confirm that it's cast iron? Would anyone on this forum agree? I will post some photos of the inside and of the magnet sticking to the inside and outside. Thanks again!

 

Iron it is.

 

I do not think they're replicas of something of an earlier period. When they were made they were probably an original design. But it looks like the designer just grabbed elements suggestive of antiquity & applied them in an almost random way.

I can't tell how old they are. They could be antique, i.e., at least 100 years old, or made to look antique. They seem to go with go with a more Victorian sensibility. You often see such things depicted on mourning jewellery.

 

Thanks!

 

Thanks for ur feedback - the info is very helpful!

 

Here are pics of inside of urn, discoloration under the chipped white paint, and the magnet sticking to the urn in a couple of places. Wanted to share. Thanks again to this community of everyone helping me!