Reclaimed Limestone Fountain

A freestanding stone fountain in pale reclaimed limestone: a full circle of curved segment blocks around a raised central urn. The urn has fluting around its base, now heavily eroded, and every block shows pitting, surface abrasion and rounded-off arrises from a long life outdoors. The stone is pale gray with sandy ochre veining and patches of muted charcoal. It keeps the water cool in full sun and gives a muted, steady sound.

The basin is 55 inches in diameter outside and about 43 inches inside, with the urn 13 1/2 inches across. Overall height is 43 1/2 inches, the basin wall about 18 inches of that; the listed depth of the segments is 6 inches. It was sold as stone and basin, with the pump by the installer. The wear is the point here: this is a hard-used village piece, not a polished one.

An antique fountain of this kind suits a crushed-gravel motor court, the center of a boxwood garden as a reflecting pool, or a glazed atrium where a stone piece can carry a whole room. Teak benches and decomposed granite bring out the ochre in the stone. This stone fountain has sold; we usually have similar circular fountains in the yard or on the water, so ask for what is current.