Contemporary Garden Decoration: Large Outdoor Water Fountains and their Roots

Originally, fountains only served a practical purpose. Inhabitants of urban areas, townships and small towns utilized them as a source of drinking water and a place to wash up, which meant that fountains needed to be connected to nearby aqueduct or spring. Used until the nineteenth century, in order for fountains to flow or shoot up into the air, their source of water such as reservoirs or aqueducts, had to be higher than the water fountain in order to benefit from gravity. Fountains were not only used as a water source for drinking water, but also to decorate homes and celebrate the artist who created it. Animals or heroes made of bronze or stone masks were often used by Romans to beautify their fountains. Muslims and Moorish landscaping designers of the Middle Ages included fountains to re-create smaller models of the gardens of paradise. To show his dominance over nature, French King Louis XIV included fountains in the Garden of Versailles. The Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries were extolled with baroque style fountains built to mark the place of entry of Roman aqueducts.

The end of the 19th century saw the increase in usage of indoor plumbing to provide drinking water, so urban fountains were relegated to purely decorative elements. Gravity was substituted by mechanical pumps in order to enable fountains to bring in clean water and allow for amazing water displays.

Decorating city parks, honoring people or events and entertaining, are some of the functions of modern-day fountains.

What Are Large Outdoor Fountains Created From?

At present, copper is quite prevalent for sculptural garden fountains. Copper is popular for both inside and outside use and is frequently found in tabletop and cascade fountains, among others. Copper fountains also come in a wide array of designs - from fun and eccentric to modern and cutting-edge.

If your style is more conventional, a brass water fountain might be perfect for you. Even though they are a bit old-fashioned, brass fountains are quite popular because they often include interesting artwork.

Of all the metals, stainless steel is viewed as the most contemporary-looking. If you select a cutting-edge steel design, both the value and tranquility of your garden will get a nice bump. As with all fountains, you can get any size you choose.

Because it is both lighter and more affordable than metal but has a nearly identical look, fiberglass is quite common for fountains. Keeping a fiberglass water fountain clean and working well is quite easy, another aspect consumers love.