Modern Garden Decor: Garden Fountains and their Beginnings

From the beginning, outdoor fountains were soley meant to serve as functional elements. People in cities, towns and villages received their drinking water, as well as water to bathe and wash, from aqueducts or springs in the area. Up until the 19th century, fountains had to be higher and closer to a water supply, including aqueducts and reservoirs, in order to benefit from gravity which fed the fountains. Serving as an element of adornment and celebration, fountains also generated clean, fresh drinking water. Animals or heroes made of bronze or stone masks were often times utilized by Romans to beautify their fountains. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden planners included fountains to create smaller depictions of the gardens of paradise. The fountains found in the Gardens of Versailles were supposed to show the power over nature held by King Louis XIV of France. The Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries were extolled with baroque style fountains constructed to mark the arrival points of Roman aqueducts.

Since indoor plumbing became the standard of the day for clean, drinking water, by the end of the 19th century urban fountains were no longer needed for this purpose and they became purely decorative. Fountains using mechanical pumps instead of gravity enabled fountains to deliver recycled water into living spaces as well as create unique water effects.

These days, fountains decorate public spaces and are used to pay tribute to individuals or events and fill recreational and entertainment needs.

What Are Wall fountains Crafted From?

A common choice today is copper, and it is used in the making of many sculptural garden fountains. Copper is trendy for both inside and outside use and is commonly found in tabletop and cascade fountains, among others. Copper fountains also come in a vast array of styles - from fun and eccentric to modern and cutting-edge.

Also common, brass fountains typically have a more old-fashioned look to them versus their copper counterpart. Brass fountains are commonly designed with interesting artwork, so they are popular even if they are a bit conventional.

Of all the metals, stainless steel is seen as the most modern -looking. Adding a modern-looking steel design will immediately add value to your garden and elevate the overall ambiance. As with all fountains, you can get any size you choose.

For people who want the appearance of a metal fountain but prefer a lighter weight and more affordable option, fiberglass is the answer. Keeping a fiberglass water fountain clean and working well is quite simple, another aspect consumers love.