Hugo Wingsley French Provincial Cherub Statue on Sphere, Rust Cast Iron 38cm

A cherub who has climbed onto the finial and has no intention of getting down.

Hugo Wingsley is a winged cherub cast in solid iron and finished in a natural rust patina, seated astride a plain sphere with one leg out to each side, both hands resting on the ball, feathered wings folded behind him. The sphere sits on a square stepped plinth cast as part of the piece. He weighs 8 kg, which is the difference between cast iron and the resin and magnesia pieces that copy this shape. The casting carries the curl of the hair, the soft modelling of the face and each row of wing feathers.

At 38cm he is a classical garden ornament of the kind that has topped gateposts and terrace walls for centuries, only here at a size you can actually place. He is built for outdoor life: 8 kg of iron keeps him where you put him, and the rust patina is a finish rather than a fault, so weather deepens him instead of wearing him out.

Why we love it

• ◆The pose, astride the ball rather than perched on it, which is a much better piece of sculpture than the usual seated putto
• ◆The face, turned down and to one side with the eyes closed, so he reads as thoughtful rather than sweet
• ◆The weight, 8 kg of solid cast iron on a square plinth, so he sits on a wall cap without moving
• ◆The rust patina, deep amber across the shoulders and the ball, russet in the wing feathers, and it only improves outdoors

How to style it

He is a gatepost piece by tradition, so put him somewhere raised and let him look down.

• Set him on a gatepost cap or the end of a low garden wall
• Stand him at the top or the foot of a flight of steps
• Put him on a plinth in a bed so he clears the planting
• Bring him indoors to a hall console or a mantel through winter
• Group him with the rest of our garden sculptures

Care & Keeping

Wipe with a soft dry cloth to lift dust out of the hair curls and between the wing feathers. The rust patina is a finished surface and needs no sealing. Place a felt pad or a saucer underneath on pale stone or painted timber, and keep harsh chemical cleaners and abrasive pads away from him.

Because Hugo Wingsley is hand-finished, slight variations in patina, texture, and grain are natural and add to the unique character of each piece. Colour may also vary slightly between screens, all photography is taken in natural light.