A Homeowner's Guide to Statuary for the Garden

Statuary is a wonderful way to add timeless elegance and charm to your outdoor space. Whether you are a seasoned gardener or a new homeowner, statuary will add character and a personal touch to your oasis. Take a look at what to consider when selecting statuary and discover how incorporating these classic garden elements can transform your outdoor space.

Why Statuary?

Statuary is one of the best ways to bring life and personality to an outdoor space or garden. The type and style of statuary you select will help set the tone depending on the statue’s unique pose, expression, and location among the natural landscape.

As an element that is safe to keep outdoors year-round, it is an excellent way to add a touch of personalization and enjoy no matter the season.

Left: Piper of the Garden Statue in a charming residential garden.

Selecting by Type and Size

There are many different types of statuary that can help set the tone of a garden. Ultimately, the size of the statuary should complement the size of your outdoor space. If you have a large garden or outdoor space to fill, a larger statue or a series of large statues will be able to fill the space and bring it together cohesively. If you have a small garden, a small or medium-sized piece will work nicely among your plants and flowers without looking out of place.

Our collection has a wide range of statuary styles made from cast stone and natural lead, including classic Italian-inspired statuary in human form, playful animal statuary, and oriental pieces. Our statuary comes in various sizes from 6 feet to less than 5 inches tall.

Left: Classical Four Seasons Statue placed along a large garden wall. Right: Dancing Girl Statue with Arched Trellis tucked into a garden nook, as seen in Southern Lady Magazine, August 2020 Edition.

When working with a larger space, consider human-form pieces that stand tall and proud. In our Estate Elements collection, you can find pieces such as the Classical Four Seasons Statues, Girl with Shawl, Large Standing Lion, or La Brezza. If choosing human form statuary, facial expression and body language will matter. Are you looking to set a happy and light-hearted tone, or more of a dramatic and majestic experience for your garden?

Smaller spaces and gardens are perfect for smaller human form figures or animal figures. Get inspired by our human figures, including the Dancing Girl, Four Seasons Cherubs, and Growing Things statue, or view our selection of small animal statuary such as rabbits, frogs, and turtles.

Left: La Brezza centered in a fountain bed of a large garden. Right: Reclining Four Seasons Cherub placed along the wall of a home garden.

Deciding on Statuary Placement

Once you’ve decided on the type of statuary, it is important to consider what placement and orientation will work best based on the size and configuration of your property. Statuary can be used as a main focal point, a series of strategically placed elements, or as a way to enhance other garden elements.

A great way to create an impressive focal point in your garden is by placing large statuary in a central location and enhancing it with lush flower beds and plantings. If you're working with a smaller space, it may be better to consider a smaller piece that can be placed among garden paths or in corners of the garden. That way, you can still bring life to your outdoor space without overpowering other elements.

Left: The Classical Four Seasons Statue as a focal point in a formal garden. Right: Cast Stone Snail along a garden path.

Statuary Material

Understanding the material is a great help in taking care of your statuary throughout the various seasons and weather conditions. Statuary requires little to no maintenance, proving to be a favorable investment for outdoor spaces. All figures in our Estate Elements collection are made of natural lead or cast stone, making them extremely durable and safe to withstand all seasons and weather conditions.

Cast Stone Elements:

Cast stone statuary from our Estate Elements collection is made from a manufactured stone that will weather like natural stone over time. Cast stone pieces are intended to be left out year- round and can handle even the harsh freezing months, and no surface sealants are used which allows the item to take on a natural patina in as little as 3 years.

Learn more about: Cast Stone Elements

Lead Elements:

Lead statuary from our Estate Elements collection is finished with a liberal application of black tinted paste wax, which is then wiped back and allowed to dry prior to hand buffing. 

The resulting finished product is a dark grey with a slight sheen. Once placed in outdoor spaces, the lead will begin to weather once exposed to rain and over time the entire piece will take on a beautiful ashen grey appearance.

Learn more about: Lead Elements

Learn more

Take a look at all our statuary offerings: Explore Statuary
For more inspiration and garden elements, view our Estate Elements collection.