French Antique 18th Century Wellhead

A French antique stone wellhead from the 18th century, made up of two heavy limestone blocks that meet along an irregular, jagged seam around a circular central opening. The pale beige stone is richly covered in green moss and orange-yellow lichen, with deep pitting, weathered scars and coarse horizontal grooves along the outer edges. It sits low, a collar rather than a tall well surround.

Assembled it measures 45 inches wide, 36 1/2 inches deep and 10 inches high; the opening is 20 inches across, and each of the two blocks is about 18 1/4 inches deep, so the pieces can be moved separately. It is French, 18th century, with the moss and lichen alive on it.

It works as a well cover in a courtyard, as a cistern top, or as a low ring for a specimen tree or a bubbling fountain set into gravel. Coarse gravel, rustic brick or wild planting around it suits the moss; dark wrought iron and aged timber nearby suit the stone. An antique wellhead this low is also easy to live with where a tall one would block a view. This stone wellhead is in our yard in Marina Del Rey; see it by appointment or ask for more photographs and a quote.