Urns

Campana (bell-shaped) Urn

Campana urns, particularly of the simple, not overly ornamented variety, were praised by  Downing (1815–52). In an 1848 issue of The Horticulturist, he cited a statement by J. C. Loudon (1783–1843), a noted, early 19th-century English garden expert. Loudon wrote, “The history of every country may be traced by its vases.” Downing, whose influence lasted well into the 20th century, extolled the virtues and uses of ornamental vases, noting, “There are few objects that may, with so much good effect, be introduced into the scenery of pleasure grounds, surrounding a tasteful villa, as the vase in its many varied forms.”

The Philadelphia blacksmith and iron founder Robert Wood, who established his business on Ridge Road in 1840, was one of the most productive and influential of all the American makers. For the first decade, Wood produced stoves, pipes, and other utilitarian objects, but by 1850, he was manufacturing decorative items including ornamental railings, veranda components, pier and center tables, settees, chairs, tree boxes, and hat stands. By 1858, Wood had partnered with Elliston Perot, and was operating as Wood & Perot.

In 1859, an expert on Philadelphia manufacturing, Edwin T. Freedley, noted that “most of the cemeteries and public squares throughout the whole country are adorned by work executed in Philadelphia; and every city, probably every town in the Union, contains some specimen of our manufacturers’ skill and trade.”

While there were plenty of important cast-iron makers in New York, Boston, Detroit, and other cities, the heart of the cast-iron industry was in Philadelphia. Wood’s output and reach were unmatched. In 1858, Wood & Perot had installed sales representatives
across the country, seeking new avenues of expansion. The fact that early Wood &
Perot urns are installed at Montgomery Place is another example of how in step the
estate’s owners were with the latest fashion in garden ornament.

Above: Pair of cast-iron, campana-form urns, with unusual wavy rims, American or European, ca. 1880.

Multiple variations of the standard campana urn were produced by a large number of American and European foundries, including J. L. Mott of New York City. The J .L. Mott Iron Works, one of the most successful and prolific of all American foundries, was established by Jordan L. Mott (b. 1799) in 1828. The foundry was located in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx, with additional showrooms in Manhattan.

Terra-Cotta Urns

In the mid-19th century, the New York City-based firm Ambroise Tellier produced
terra-cotta statuary, urns, fountains, and decorative architectural ornament, in addition to a full line of terra-cotta bricks, tiles, and slabs. According to The Horticulturist, Tellier was an Italian artist who emigrated to the United States, establishing an atelier at 1194 Broadway in New York City. The Horticulturist wrote that Tellier’s terra-cotta material was “perfectly adapted to a northern climate, being as durable as brick.”

Although published after Downing’s death, the editors undoubtedly would have followed his tips on proper placement by suggesting that urns as formal as these be displayed close to the house or other architectural structure (whereas more rustic ornaments would require a more naturalistic setting).