Remarkable Pair of Large French Cast-Iron Medici Urns From the Early 19th Century - 26"

A handsome pair of large French cast-iron Medici urns dating from the early 19th century, distinguished by their beautifully restrained silhouette and richly weathered, velvety patina. Each features a broad, smooth rolled rim above a long, gently tapering body that narrows gracefully into a slender waist before giving way to the deeply gadrooned lower bowl. Despite their generous scale, the flowing proportions lend the urns a lightness and elegance rarely found on later examples. Exceptionally heavy and robustly cast, the urns possess a reassuring solidity that speaks to the quality of their manufacture. Having spent more than two centuries outdoors, the cast iron has developed a rich russet-brown patina with subtle graphite undertones. The beautifully weathered surface lends the pair remarkable depth and character. Both urns retain their original drainage holes. 

Inspired by the celebrated Medici Vase in Florence, this enduring classical form has graced European gardens for centuries. Early 19th-century examples of this quality are increasingly difficult to find and bring incomparable elegance to a terrace, entrance, or garden, whether planted with clipped boxwood, citrus, fragrant herbs, or seasonal flowers. Displayed as a pair, they create a wonderful sense of balance and symmetry, while each urn is equally striking when used individually in different settings. Their generous scale and graceful silhouette make them equally compelling indoors, where they lend sculptural presence beside a doorway, fireplace, or in a conservatory.