The Origins Of Outdoor Fountains

From the beginning, outdoor fountains were simply there to serve as functional elements. Cities, towns and villages made use of nearby aqueducts or springs to provide them with drinking water as well as water where they could bathe or wash. Until the late nineteenth, century most water fountains operated using the force of gravity to allow water to flow or jet into the air, therefore, they needed a source of water such as a reservoir or aqueduct located higher than the fountain. Serving as an element of adornment and celebration, fountains also supplied 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 designers included fountains in their designs to mimic the gardens of paradise. King Louis XIV of France wanted to illustrate his superiority 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 spot where the restored Roman aqueducts entered the city.

Urban fountains built at the end of the 19th century served only as decorative and celebratory adornments since indoor plumbing provided the necessary drinking water. Gravity was substituted by mechanical pumps in order to permit fountains to bring in clean water and allow for beautiful water displays.

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

What Are Large Outdoor Fountains Made From?

One of the most common metals for sculptural garden fountains presently is copper. Copper is common for both inside and outside use and is widely found in tabletop and cascade fountains, among others. If you decide to go with copper, your fountain can be any style from fun and whimsical to cutting-edge.

Also popular, brass fountains typically have a more old-fashioned appearance to them versus their copper counterpart. You will see a lot of brass fountains, as their intricate artwork makes them trendy even if they are on the more traditional side.

The most modern metal right now is probably stainless steel. Adding a modern-looking steel design will immediately add value to your garden and enhance the overall mood. As with any type of fountain, they are available in numerous sizes.

For people who want the appearance of a metal fountain but want a lighter weight and more affordable option, fiberglass is the answer. Caring for a fiberglass water fountain is fairly easy, another benefit that consumers like.