How to Display Sculpture in your Garden

Ornamentation has long been a feature of garden design and it is a unique way in which the gardener can stamp his own imprint on the garden for a truly personal touch. Although some ornament is religious or commemorative, such as a small shrine dedicated to a god or goddess, or a stone erected in remembrance of a beloved pet, the majority have little or no symbolic function. Generally speaking, decoration is mostly a matter of pure self-indulgence, something that looks good, is appropriate to the setting and will give a great deal of pleasure in the garden.

Ornament exists in many forms, including sculpture, statuary, sundials, columns, finials, urns and grottoes. Not all ornament is inanimate; there are moving abstract sculptures and enlivening topiary figures. The particular style employed is entirely a matter of personal taste: statuary can be classical or contemporary; trompe I’oeils and objets trouves can be serious or surrealistic.

Whatever your choice, ornament can stand out and act as a point of interest or it can merge in with surrounding features for a more subtle effect. As well as being attractive in its own right, it should also work well within the garden as a whole and complement the planting. The overall effect must be one of harmony and integration.

Sculpture

Sculpture is a general term that covers most three-dimensional objects that have no function other than a decorative one; a piece of sculpture is an object to be appreciated and enjoyed. Its success relies on an underlying sense of proportion and relationship of space as well as the manual skill of a good sculptor.

To be aesthetically pleasing, a sculpture does not have to be representational, that is to say, it does not have to resemble a realistic figure or an animal, or an object like a basket of fruit. Instead, it can be a simple block of stone or wood that has a pleasing shape or an interesting texture. A cube of stone, for instance, if it is carefully erected in a sympathetic setting, can work very well, often better than something elaborate.

Sometimes sculpture is symbolic; it may contain a message or have an association with a particular phenomenon or experience. A figure of Neptune rising from the waves, for example, would be most appropriate placed in or near a water feature, and in order to be successful, a Japanese sculpture — a lantern, a tower or a buddha — should be placed in an oriental-looking context. Most sculpture benefits from a backdrop such as a hedge or wall, a plant-clad trellis or an “architectural” plant. Classical sculpture tends to look best in more formal settings; it can look especially pleasing in association with another stone structure such as a terrace or a paved walkway. Some modern sculpture is best in informal settings; a figure standing partly hidden by shrubs can be very effective, or one peeping from behind a group of trees. Modern pieces also look good near plants that echo the shape of the sculpture.

All sculpture should be carefully chosen. Only select pieces that you personally like and which you feel will enhance the garden. Do not overburden the garden with too many different items, otherwise you will detract from each individual piece and the effect will lose its impact: one thoughtfully chosen, well positioned sculpture will be more impressive than indifferent pieces scattered around at random.

Commissioning original sculpture can be very expensive and the alternative is to buy a reproduction, but be selective and pick the most authentic-looking piece. Stone, real, reconstituted or artificial, is one of the best materials for garden sculpture; bronze is also excellent, although it is rather dear.