vase; pedestal
Description
Two large identical cast iron pedestal vases. They are highly decorative with beading, twist and fern patterns along with faces for the handles at either side.
Such decorative urns were used to heat the entrance lobbies of large houses and sat on a fire box. The hot air ascended through the urn and heated it up and this heat was passed on by radiation. The spent air was then vented through a flue pipe set in the back and the hole where this was attached can be seen on these examples. The find context for these shows them to be an early product of the Carron Company, c1790.
The two urns were used as funerary monuments, set on top of large gate piers in a grave enclosure in Larbert Cemetery to the east of that of William Cadell - the first manager of the Carron Company. Adjoining plots were used by subsequent managers. The holes for the vents had been plugged using lead sheets, on which the greek key patterning was replicated. Once painted this would not have been observable. The urns had fallen to the ground and were in danger of being removed when they were discovered and handed over to the museum.
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Object detail
Dimensions:W 50cm (W 1' 7 11/16")
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