The Frog Prince Verdigris French Provincial Frog Statue, Cast Iron 30cm

A frog up on his hind legs, leaning into it, both arms in the air.

The Frog Prince is a frog cast in solid iron and finished in an bright verdigris patina, up on his two long hind legs and leaning well forward from the hips, body angled rather than upright, with both front arms raised above his head and the webbed hands open, on a small rough rock base. He weighs 2.6 kg, which is the difference between cast iron and the resin frogs that copy this shape. The skin is cast with the fine pebbled texture of a real frog rather than smoothed flat.

At 30cm he is about the height of a table lamp, easily lifted in one hand and characterful enough to hold a spot on his own. He is built for outdoor life: the iron takes weather without complaint, and the patina is a finish rather than a fault, so it deepens rather than wears away.

Why we love it

• ◆The pose, leaning forward from the hips with both arms up, caught mid-move rather than standing to attention, which is a genuinely joyful piece of sculpture and rare in cast iron
• ◆The legs, two long hind legs holding the whole forward-leaning weight, cast thin and still strong
• ◆The webbing, the toes and the webbing between them worked right through on both hands and feet
• ◆The finish, a vivid blue-green teal, bright rather than dark, turquoise where it has bloomed in the recesses and cooling to a deeper blue-grey on the raised edges, and it only improves outdoors

How to style it

He leans forward and reaches up, so he needs headroom and a little clear space in front of him.

• Stand him at the edge of a pond or a water bowl
• Set him in a bed where the planting comes up to his knees but no higher
• Put him on a step or a wall cap so the raised arms clear the skyline
• Bring him indoors to a bathroom or a conservatory
• Pair him with Major Ribbit, the one doing a handstand
• Group him with the rest of our garden sculptures

Care & Keeping

Wipe with a soft dry cloth to lift dust out of the webbing between the fingers and around the rock base. The 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 The Frog Prince 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.