The Garden & Architectural Collection: A Strong Sale for Statement Garden Antiques


May 2026

Our recent Garden & Architectural Collection proved to be a highly successful sale, with strong bidding across the catalogue and particularly impressive results for sundials, garden seating, urns, planters and decorative sculpture. From grand country house pieces to characterful architectural salvage, the sale showed clear demand for distinctive outdoor antiques with presence, provenance and design appeal.


Sundials Shine at the Top of the Sale


One of the strongest stories of the sale was the performance of sundials, which attracted particularly enthusiastic bidding. These pieces have long held a special place in garden design, offering both beauty and purpose, and buyers clearly responded to their sculptural quality.

A large weathered cast stone sundial, raised on a bulbous column and square plinth, became one of the standout moments of the sale when it achieved £1,500, well above its estimate. An impressive Haddon stone armillary sundial followed closely at £1,400, while a charming terracotta twin swan sundial brought further strength to the section, selling for £900. Together, they showed just how much demand there remains for classic garden focal points with scale, texture and decorative impact.

Garden Chairs & Benches Attract Strong Bidding


The appetite for well-designed garden seating was equally evident. Benches and chairs with strong form, period inspiration and foundry interest drew confident bidding throughout the sale, proving that buyers were looking for pieces that were both practical and decorative.

A pair of unusual Victorian revival heavy cast iron garden chair benches, with ornate scrollwork, squirrel and nature detail after a George Smith Sun Foundry design, achieved £1,200, reflecting the appeal of garden furniture with real personality. Coalbrookdale also proved a name to attract attention, with a rare pair of wrought iron and slatted wood garden benches selling for £1,000. Elsewhere, a Regency wrought iron strapwork bench with a Scottish thistle motif reached £600, while two Coalbrookdale Lily Pad design benches each achieved £600, reinforcing the strength of garden furniture with recognisable design heritage.

Urns & Planters Prove Consistently Popular


Urns and planters formed another strong thread running through the sale. The best examples offered the scale and grandeur that buyers seek for terraces, entrances and formal gardens, while smaller pieces added texture, age and decorative charm.

Four good quality weathered cast stone pedestal urns, with lobed bowls, rope twist and lattice borders, achieved £1,400, while a pair of 19th century Coalbrookdale cast iron petal rim urns sold for £1,000. These were joined by a richly decorative Classical cast bronze centrepiece urn, which reached £800, and an impressive pair of early lead garden urns with griffin handles, cherubs and laurel wreaths, also achieving £800.

The strength was not limited to traditional urns either. A cast stone planting circle detailed with flower motifs and roundels sold for £800, showing that buyers were also drawn to unusual garden design pieces with strong visual appeal.

Sculpture & Decorative Garden Pieces Make an Impression


Sculpture and decorative garden pieces added another layer of personality to the catalogue. These were the lots that brought atmosphere and individuality – pieces capable of becoming instant focal points in courtyards, entrances and landscaped gardens.

A large weathered cast stone horse head figure made a strong impression at £950, while a Farran stone hooded monk statue on a Gothic pedestal achieved £800. A pair of life-size heavy cast iron hunting dogs also performed well, selling for £750. Their success underlined how much buyers value decorative garden pieces with presence, character and a strong sense of place.

Architectural Elements Add Breadth and Energy


The wider architectural section gave the sale further depth and variety. Country house gates, trellis, windows, lamps, columns and pediments all contributed to a catalogue rich in texture and possibility, appealing to buyers looking to shape and define both interior and exterior spaces.

An impressive 19th century 9ft wrought iron Country House gate achieved £600 while four early 20th century French painted wicker trellis or dividers sold for £480. Alongside the many windows, columns, lanterns, architectural pediments and garden structures offered, these results reflected the broader mood of the sale: buyers were not only seeking individual decorative objects, but pieces that could bring period character and atmosphere into a space.


A Sale with Real Momentum


Overall, The Garden & Architectural Collection performed very well, with strength across multiple areas rather than relying on a single headline result. The sale demonstrated continued demand for garden antiques with age, patina, quality craftsmanship and strong decorative presence.

Sundials led some of the most exciting moments, garden benches and chairs brought steady competition, and urns, planters, sculpture and architectural salvage all contributed to a confident and engaging sale – a strong reminder of the continuing appeal of beautiful, characterful pieces for the garden and home.

If you have garden antiques, furniture, architectural salvage, statuary, urns, planters or decorative outdoor pieces you are considering selling, our team would be delighted to hear from you. Contact us today to arrange a free valuation and find out how we can help present your pieces to an active audience of buyers.
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