Inspector Truffles Small French Provincial Pig Statue, Rust Cast Iron 26cm

A pig in a bow tie, hat in hand, waiting to be introduced.

Inspector Truffles is a standing pig cast in solid iron and finished in a natural rust patina, turned out properly: ears up, bow tie at the collar, open coat over a buttoned waistcoat, breeches and boots, a wide brimmed hat held in front of him. He weighs 3.14 kg, which is the difference between cast iron and the resin and magnesia pieces that copy this shape. The casting carries the weave of the coat, the crease of the hat brim and every button worked separately.

At 26cm he is the size of a table lamp and easily lifted in one hand. He is built for outdoor life: the iron keeps him upright 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 face, a pig caught mid thought, which is a great deal harder to cast than a pig standing still
• ◆The weight, 3.14 kg of cast iron, heavier than he looks and heavier than anything moulded
• ◆The rust patina, deep amber across the coat and the hat brim, russet in the folds, and it only improves outdoors
• ◆The tailoring, bow tie, lapels, waistcoat buttons and hat all worked rather than smoothed away

How to style it

He is a greeter, so put him where someone arrives rather than where they end up.

• Stand him beside a door, a gate or the top of a step
• Set him at the front of a border where the planting is low
• Give him a hall console or a kitchen windowsill indoors
• Pair him with the 44.5cm version of the same character for a large and small
• Group him with the rest of our garden sculptures

Care & Keeping

Wipe with a soft dry cloth to lift dust out of the hat brim and the coat folds. 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 Inspector Truffles 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.