Where did Large Garden Fountains Come From?

The central purpose of a fountain was originally strictly functional. Residents of urban areas, townships and small towns utilized them as a source of drinking water and a place to wash, which meant that fountains needed to be connected to nearby aqueduct or spring. Up until the 19th century, fountains had to be higher and closer to a water source, such as aqueducts and reservoirs, in order to benefit from gravity which fed the fountains. Designers thought of fountains as wonderful additions to a living space, however, the fountains also served to supply clean water and honor the designer responsible for creating it. Bronze or stone masks of wildlife and heroes were commonly seen on Roman fountains. Muslims and Moorish garden designers of the Middle Ages included fountains to re-create smaller versions of the gardens of paradise. To show his dominance over nature, French King Louis XIV included fountains in the Garden of Versailles. Seventeen and 18 century Popes sought to laud their positions by including decorative baroque-style fountains at the point where restored Roman aqueducts arrived into the city.

Since indoor plumbing became the norm of the day for fresh, 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 helped fountains to provide recycled water into living spaces as well as create special water effects.

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

The Countless Construction Materials of Landscape Fountains

At present, copper is extremely prevalent for sculptural garden fountains. Copper is used in cascade and tabletop water fountains as well as various other styles, making it perfect for inside and outside fountains. Another benefit of copper fountains is they are versatile and come in a wide variety of styles.

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

The most modern metal right now is probably stainless steel. If you pick a cutting-edge steel design, both the value and tranquility of your garden will get a nice bump. As with most fountains, they are available in many sizes.

For people who want the visual appeal of a metal fountain but desire a lighter weight and more affordable option, fiberglass is the answer. The maintenance of fiberglass water fountains is quite simple, so they have many merits that people appreciate.