Images(2)

Plant Stand

Date1800-1842

OriginEngland

MediumWrought iron

DimensionsOH: 40 3/4"; Diam: 50 1/2"

Object number1996.BH.804,A-D

DescriptionPlant stand in four pieces. The base with four arched legs with paw feet supporting a central, vertical rod. Three round graduated tiers slip over the rod. Each tier has three flat reeded concentric rings creating the supports for plants in pots that are in turn supported by flat and arched armatures. Painted black.Label TextFrom the late 18th into the early 19th century, wrought iron garden furniture ornamented elegant British gardens. Created of delicate, but durable strapwork, these benches, tables, and stands provided delight and respite. The fashion for these pieces revived in America in the early 20th century after decades of more massive cast iron garden seats. Following this trend, Mrs. Rockefeller acquired a group of such pieces for her garden at Bassett Hall.

Wrought iron garden furniture is rarely marked. The impressed marks in this stand ("ACRAMAN" and what may be "SW&E") likely indicates the Bristol, England iron foundery of William Daniel Acraman and William Edward Acraman; Acraman and Sons, and D.E. and A. Acraman, W.D. and W.E. Acraman, and Acramans, Morgan & Co. The firm, which began as Acraman and sons, was in business primarily producing industrial iron by the 1800s until 1842 when Acramans, Morgan & Co went bankrupt.Mark(s)Impressed marks on underside of middle tier of plant stand. Central mark reads "ACRAMAN". Another smaller mark might read "SW&E". A third mark might read "E".