Inspector Truffles Large French Provincial Pig Statue, Rust Cast Iron 44.5cm

Nearly half a metre of pig in a waistcoat, and thirteen kilos of him.

This is Inspector Truffles at full size, a standing pig cast in solid iron and finished in a natural rust patina: ears up, bow tie at the collar, open coat over a buttoned waistcoat, breeches and boots, a walking cane in one trotter and a wide brimmed hat held against his chest. He weighs 12.7 kg, which is the difference between cast iron and the resin and magnesia pieces that copy this shape. At this scale every button, crease and hair of the casting is plainly visible.

At 44.5cm he is well above knee height and stands on the ground rather than on furniture. He is built for outdoor life: 12.7 kg of iron holds him through any weather, 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 scale, 44.5cm and 12.7 kg, which puts him in the class of a stone garden figure rather than an ornament
• ◆The cane and hat, both cast as one piece with him, and both are the first things a visitor notices
• ◆The rust patina, deep amber across the coat and hat, russet in every fold, and it only improves outdoors
• ◆The casting, held at a size where the tailoring actually reads from across a courtyard

How to style it

He is the largest character in the range, so treat him as the anchor of a space rather than an accent in it.

• Stand him beside a front door where he greets people at close to waist height
• Set him at the turn of a path with low planting behind so the silhouette reads
• Put him in a conservatory or a wide hall over winter
• Buy the 26cm version as well and stand them together as a large and small
• Group him with the rest of our garden sculptures

Care & Keeping

Let dirt dry and brush it off rather than scrubbing wet. Wipe with a soft dry cloth to lift dust from the hat brim and the coat folds. The rust patina is a finished surface and needs no sealing. Place a pad underneath on pale stone, 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.