French Antique 18th Century Limestone Wellhead

A French antique stone wellhead from the 18th century, a raw limestone ring, deeply scarred and heavily stained, with a pitted exterior and an inner opening just as rough. The body is dusty chalk white and bone beige; dark charcoal gray and a deep forest-green organic patina cloak large parts of the outside and make the cratered texture more pronounced. The upper rim and the base both show severe chipping and irregular breaks.

It measures 47 inches across and 18 1/4 inches high; the opening is about 30 3/4 inches across. It is French, 18th century. The breaks are old and weathered to the same tone as the rest of the stone, and they are part of why the piece reads as it does. It is set with a forklift.

Set over an existing cistern it is a wellhead surround in the old sense; at the center of a courtyard it is the base for a fountain; lined, the wide opening becomes a catchment basin beneath a simple wall spout. Polished black concrete pavers beneath it show the erosion; dark basalt gravel around it lightens the chalk tones. This stone wellhead has sold. We usually have an antique wellhead or two in the yard; ask and we will send what is current.