Goosey Gander French Provincial Duck Statue, Rust Cast Iron 30cm

A duck standing on a rock with his neck up, entirely unbothered.

Goosey Gander is a standing duck cast in solid iron and finished in a natural rust patina, the long neck upright and the beak level, standing on a small rough rock base. He weighs 4.5 kg, which is the difference between cast iron and the resin pieces that copy this shape. Every wing covert and tail feather is worked separately, and the webbing of the feet is cast right through.

At 30cm and 26.5cm long he is a proper garden bird rather than a shelf ornament, and he suits the edge of a pond or a bed better than a mantelpiece. He is built for outdoor life: the rock base gives him a broad footing, 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 stance, neck up and beak level, which is a duck about to walk off rather than a duck posing
• ◆The feathering, every wing covert and tail feather worked separately, which is where cast iron beats moulded resin
• ◆The weight, 4.5 kg on a rock base, so he stands through wind without fixing down
• ◆The rust patina, deep amber along the neck and the back, russet between the feathers, and it only improves outdoors

How to style it

He belongs on the ground near water or planting, not up on a surface.

• Set him at the edge of a pond or a water bowl, which is where the eye expects him
• Stand him among low grasses so the rock base disappears into the planting
• Put him at the corner of a path where he comes into view as you turn
• Group him with two or three others so they read as a small flock
• Add him to the rest of our garden sculptures

Care & Keeping

Wipe with a soft dry cloth to lift dust out of between the wing feathers and around the feet. 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 Goosey Gander 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.