French Antique Limestone Wellhead

A French antique limestone wellhead hollowed from a single massive block, with a rugged, primitive weight. The surface is raw from the jagged rim to the base, and the exterior has a chunky, irregular profile. The patina shifts from pale ash gray to patches of deep charcoal, and the upper half carries a crust of velvety brown moss and bright orange lichen. The rim is notched and chipped; inside, the walls are gritty and pitted, with mineral tracks following the vertical grain.

It measures 38 3/4 inches in diameter and 16 inches high, with an opening of about 32 inches. The bottom is open, so it can sit as a traditional well surround over a shaft or as a planter straight onto soil. It is a heavy piece and stays where it is set.

In a garden or courtyard this stone wellhead works as a grounded ring planter for large greenery, or as the mouth of a dipping well. The warm, earthy tones go with dark ironwork and aged timber. Set before a lime-plastered wall or a hedge, the low cylinder anchors the layout. This piece has sold, but similar wellheads come through our yard; ask and we will send what is current.