French Faux Bois Wishing Well Early 20th Century
A unique and delightful French Faux Bois Wishing Well circa Early 20th Century.
Faux bois (from the French for false wood) refers to the artistic imitation of wood or wood grains. This fabulous piece is sculpted from iron rodded reinforced concrete and hand-detailed in a naturalistic manner to resemble live wood with bark-textured surfaces.
A marvellous statement for any garden!
Reinforced concrete was invented in the mid 1800s by Joseph Monier, a French gardener, who inadvertently altered architecture forever. He had set out to build a better planter and avoid the problems of rotting wood and ceramics cracking during frosts. France proudly introduced Monier’s “ferrocement” planters to the world at the Paris Exhibition of 1867. Builders from all over the world who attended that Exhibition realised that the technology could be used to modernise the infrastructure in their countries. In 1875, the first iron-reinforced concrete bridge ever built was constructed at the Castle of Chazelet. Monier was the designer.
Condition consummate with age. Please see images for reference.
Description
A unique and delightful French Faux Bois Wishing Well circa Early 20th Century.
Faux bois (from the French for false wood) refers to the artistic imitation of wood or wood grains. This fabulous piece is sculpted from iron rodded reinforced concrete and hand-detailed in a naturalistic manner to resemble live wood with bark-textured surfaces.
A marvellous statement for any garden!
Reinforced concrete was invented in the mid 1800s by Joseph Monier, a French gardener, who inadvertently altered architecture forever. He had set out to build a better planter and avoid the problems of rotting wood and ceramics cracking during frosts. France proudly introduced Monier’s “ferrocement” planters to the world at the Paris Exhibition of 1867. Builders from all over the world who attended that Exhibition realised that the technology could be used to modernise the infrastructure in their countries. In 1875, the first iron-reinforced concrete bridge ever built was constructed at the Castle of Chazelet. Monier was the designer.
Condition consummate with age. Please see images for reference.
