Duke Beaumont French Provincial Horse Head Bust, Rust Cast Iron 43cm

A stallion caught mid turn, held in iron and left to the weather.

Duke Beaumont is a horse head bust cast in solid iron and finished in a natural rust patina that runs deep amber across the raised mane and darkens to russet in every hollow. He weighs 12 kg, which is the difference between cast iron and the resin and magnesia pieces that copy this shape. The casting carries the flare of the nostril, the bridle strap across the cheek, and each fall of the mane worked separately.

At 43cm tall he reads from across a courtyard and still suits a hall console indoors. He is built for outdoor life: the iron is heavy enough to stay put in wind, 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 profile, a classical equestrian bust of the kind that has stood at garden entrances for two centuries
• ◆The weight, 12 kg of solid cast iron, so he stands through wind and weather without fixing down
• ◆The rust patina, deep amber where light catches the raised edges, russet down in the recesses, and it only improves outdoors
• ◆The casting, nostril, bridle and mane each worked rather than smoothed away

How to style it

Duke Beaumont carries a spot on his own, so give him a clear surface and let the profile read.

• Stand him on a low garden wall where the profile reads against render
• Give him one end of a hall console with books at the other
• Group him with the rest of our garden sculptures
• Set him beside planters of clipped box on a terrace

Care & Keeping

Wipe with a soft dry cloth to lift dust from the mane and bridle. 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 Duke Beaumont 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.