Contemporary Garden Decoration: Fountains and their Beginnings

Pure practicality was the original role of fountains. People in cities, towns and villages received their drinking water, as well as water to bathe and wash, from aqueducts or springs in the vicinity. 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 utilized 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 utilized by Romans to beautify their fountains. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden designers included fountains in their designs to mimic the gardens of paradise. King Louis XIV of France wanted to demonstrate his dominion over nature by including fountains in the Gardens of Versailles. The Romans of the 17th and 18th centuries manufactured baroque decorative fountains to glorify the Popes who commissioned them as well as to mark the location where the restored Roman aqueducts entered the city.

Since indoor plumbing became the standard 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 ornamental. Impressive water effects and recycled water were made possible by replacing the power of gravity with mechanical pumps.

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

Exterior Wall Fountains: The Numerous Styles Available

Depending on your requirements, you can choose from mounted or freestanding types. Little, self-contained mounted wall fountains can be hung on any surface. Fountains of this type need to be light, therefore, they are typically fabricated from resin (resembling stone) or fiberglass. Large-sized free-standing wall fountains, often referred to as floor fountains, have their basins located on the floor and a flat side leaning on a wall. Water features such as these are typically manufactured of cast stone and have no weight limits.

Custom-made fountains which can be incorporated into a new or existing wall are often prescribed by landscaping designers. The basin and all the required plumbing are best installed by a qualified mason. It is also vital to add a spout or fountain mask to build it into the wall. A custom-built wall fountain blends into the landscape instead of standing out because it was a later addition, which adds to a unified look.

"Primitive" Greek Artwork: Outdoor Statuary