Cast iron awesomeness… a Victorian garden urn.
Update: here is the restored urn!
I’ve been incredibly busy with important end-of-summer projects:
- Vacation.
- Recovering from vacation.
- Shoving books into my head as fast as I can.
However, I’m never too busy to look on Craigslist for a new, unwieldy object of desire that I cannot live without.
This is what the seller posted:
I’m not even sure what that’s a drawing of. But I’ll be needing it.
Paul was working in the basement. I opened the door and yelled — ARE YOU DOWN THERE?
From directly under the steps he said — no.
I guess he could sense his project had just come to a premature halt.
The photo on Craigslist in no way reflected how badly rusted it was.
Or how the paint was terrible.
Or how it was kind of broken.
Or how it was utterly awesome.
Paul was not immediately sold on the awesomeness. However, this is why he married me… To spare himself the indignity of failing to acquire this.
The urn comes apart into four pieces. The bottom of the base is stamped on two sides: “Adams and Storrie Makers.” And then below that, “Phila.” Adams and Storrie were Philadelphia iron merchants who made, among other things, Victorian garden urns, benches, garden statuary, and iron cemetery markers.
When I Googled them, the only helpful reference was a blog run by a woman who explores the history of Philadelphia-area cemeteries. I’ll paraphrase her for my use here, but her site is an interesting place to visit. She’s done a lot of research on Philadelphia’s past, and she has amazing photos of antique stone and marble statues.
“William Adams was born in 1833 in New Jersey. By 1870, he lived in Philadelphia with his second wife. North Philadelphia was considered a fashionable address for those with “new money” earned from manufacturing success.
Adams had originally partnered with a man named Storrie in the 1880’s-1890’s to start the Adams and Storrie Iron Foundry. He later separated from Storrie and incorporated the William Adams Foundry Company in 1903.” -Source
August 27, 2012 @ 2:52 pm
Funky planter! Cool history. Now: what are you going to put in it…? 🙂
August 27, 2012 @ 3:25 pm
We need to have a party… I want to fill it with ice and champagne.
Best cooler ever, no?
August 27, 2012 @ 3:04 pm
Girl you have the best of luck in finding treasures. I love it. In the photos it does not look so tall but 50″ according to the drawing is substantial for a planter. Some of my shorty nieces are barely taller than it. LOLI an anxious to see what you do with it. You need to put a score button at the end of that post. well then again only if you got a great deal on it.
August 27, 2012 @ 3:35 pm
As much time as I spend monitoring Craigslist? I OUGHT to have something to show for it… Some people call it addiction. I call it love.
You’re not kidding about 4’ tall being large for a planter. It’s huge. I should probably have stood next to it to give it context. I think we got a fantastic deal on it… Paul, maybe not so much. I watch them on Ebay once in a while, and am always dismayed at how far outside my price range they are. This one kind of squeaked in. Kind of. But it’s so giant, and stamped, and ornate, that I absolutely could not pass it up!!
August 27, 2012 @ 4:49 pm
Can’t wait to see what you do with it!
August 28, 2012 @ 10:03 am
What I really wanted to do was put it in our foyer. No kidding. It wouldn’t leave any room for actually getting in or out of the house, but it would ensure that anyone who came to visit would immediately understand my priorities.
September 12, 2013 @ 10:45 am
Ok – call me crazy – but that is EXACTLY what I was thinking!!! This is screaming to live inside with a massive fern to welcome the world properly into your kingdom!
August 27, 2012 @ 5:29 pm
It’s beautiful and how fun to be learning about it’s history!! Can’t wait to see what you do with it; it’s truly lovely.
August 28, 2012 @ 10:06 am
Thanks!! I think I’m going to leave it empty for the time being. I’m kind of gardened-out for the season and new planting jobs don’t even sound fun at this point. Plus, I have a picture in my head—of it filled with oversized ornaments at Christmas.
August 28, 2012 @ 1:03 pm
Oooh… that will be really pretty for Christmas! How fun to be able to have it have different looks; decorative for Christmas and then plant in it when you’re feeling inspired in the spring.
August 28, 2012 @ 5:31 pm
After I typed that… I was a little horrified I’m already planning Christmas decorating! This summer went so fast!
August 28, 2012 @ 5:42 pm
Ha!! I always plan for Christmas early otherwise I have a total tantrum and Tyson’s left wondering what to do with his mess of a wife. Again, it’s one of those tricks that keep my marriage in tact. 🙂
August 29, 2012 @ 7:46 am
Taking this under advisement!!
September 15, 2013 @ 7:21 pm
gourds and pine cones for fall!
August 27, 2012 @ 6:46 pm
Oh, wow, your Craigslist is definitely better than my Craigslist! It’s SO beautiful.
August 28, 2012 @ 10:08 am
It’s true—my Craigslist is amazing. I mean, there is plenty of junk on there… but if you’re looking for something and you’re patient (REALLY patient) and willing to wade thorough the trash… it completely pays off!!
August 28, 2012 @ 11:43 am
Whilst I complain, I must admit that I’m sitting 10 feet away from my son’s project of refurbishing two lovely Queen-Anne style chairs for his university pad, so probably we are finding a few neat things! Still jealous of your planter, though.
August 28, 2012 @ 12:55 pm
Your son must be a more sophisticated version of the average, college-age guy than I’m familiar with. We just moved my youngest brother into his senior-year apartment. And? I tell you there was not a whole lot of good taste going on there.
August 28, 2012 @ 10:07 pm
Haha, my poor son is really intense about his furniture but I’m sure I am to blame or it’s in the gene pool. However, it’s side by side with the chess shot glass game and “periodic table of mixology”, so not a lot more sophisticated!
August 29, 2012 @ 7:45 am
Lol… periodic table of mixology. Okay, he sounds like a normal guy. Albeit, with unusually good taste in furniture.
August 28, 2012 @ 8:37 am
Victoria Elizabeth,
Perhaps you are aware that size makes this a very unusual piece. A makers mark increases desirability. You are very lucky to have found it for yourself. If you are ever considering selling would you please contact me?
Thank you, James
August 28, 2012 @ 10:10 am
Hi James,
Even though you have to submit your email when commenting, I don’t personally get that information… if you want to send me your info through the contact link at the top of my page, I’ll hold on to it. Although? Fair warning –I am so in love with this, I cannot imagine there will be a day I’m ready to part with it. But I’m flattered!! Thanks for your comment!!
August 28, 2012 @ 12:37 pm
Amazing piece! Would make an awesome cooler for a backyard party 😉 what a perfect idea!
August 28, 2012 @ 2:57 pm
RIGHT!!?? Fanciest party ever.
August 29, 2012 @ 9:41 am
I had to share this with you… I was looking at the website of an antiques store in Cincinnati, OH yesterday, and they have all sorts of huge cast iron urns available. You could start a whole collection… http://www.woodennickelantiques.net/Garden.html
August 29, 2012 @ 9:48 am
And a fountain… OBVIOUSLY I need one of those too.
August 29, 2012 @ 1:35 pm
yes!! that would be awesome!!
August 28, 2012 @ 12:42 pm
Wow!! I LOVE this!! What a fantastic find! SO much potential and still so amazingly gorgeous just like it is!!
August 28, 2012 @ 3:00 pm
Thank you! I’m so in love with it! My enthusiasm when I got my first look was astronomical. Now all I need is a mansion to go with it…
August 28, 2012 @ 12:48 pm
Victoria,
I love it, what a great find. I want to hear the story of the back breaking lift to get each part into the car. I bet Paul will be interested to know you have a potential buyer for the piece, just in case. I don’t think such incredible, historic pieces of anything are found on Southern California’s craigslist, but you’ve made me fire up my craigslist and search again.
Hope your vacation was wonderful and relaxing.
Karen
August 28, 2012 @ 3:05 pm
Karen, I’m absolutely going to point out to Paul, what a wise investment we’ve made… according to strangers on the Internet. Hopefully he will see this as important validation of my excellent taste.
Obviously, I love it beyond measure…but the paint is really terrible. I’m not sure yet what my best option is. On one hand, it’s fine and adds to the character. And on the other, the white and black combination is really hideous. Plus the rust is a real issue. Not the look of it, but the part where it’s actually eating the planter…
Maybe at some point you’ll do a post on garden statuary… I know you would curate some really lovely inspiration photos!
August 28, 2012 @ 5:00 pm
I love how broken and rusty it is!! Of course, I see your point about the rust actually eating away at it. I look forward to seeing what you end up doing with it.
August 29, 2012 @ 7:40 am
You can see in the one photo, how the base of it has essentially lost all its paint and is now rusting away merrily… but I think it will look strange if I only paint the bottom and leave the rest chippy. I’ve decided to just put it together for now so I can enjoy looking at it… And then decide on a plan once it gets cooler and we’re not outside as much.
August 29, 2012 @ 6:54 am
Ah! Amazing! Are you going to try to strip the paint? It could be amazing painted a color, too.
August 29, 2012 @ 7:44 am
You are so right about a color… I am tempted by my favorite robin’s egg blue!! Something needs to be done, but I haven’t decided yet what it is. I have, in the past had my vintage patio-furniture sandblasted and powder-coated. The end result is amazing—not to mention how I didn’t have to spend ages with a wire brush and paint remover… I’ll have to get a price on it though. I’m kind of thinking it might be prohibitively expensive.
August 31, 2012 @ 10:31 pm
Victoria! When did you get this hot tub? I’ve never seen such an ornate one? (laughing) Good grief that sucker is huge … and absolutely beautiful. It’s so you! Those tiny little pots in the background gave it’s size away. What a wonderful find and when I close my eyes I see it all perfectly painted with some big gorgeous geraniums in them. I can’t wait to see how you use them. I thought your massive mirror was pretty awesome but you may have outdone yourself. I’m sure Paul is so excited! (wink)
Love it – great story and history.
September 2, 2012 @ 1:00 pm
Lol Stacey—you crack me up. Paul definitely would have liked it better if it didn’t require fixing. IMMEDIATELY. He was like, how about I do it next… and I was like, um? How about you do it *right now.*
I’ll be hanging out in my fancy hot-tub over the long weekend… I’m sure you have some equally fabulous project going on at your house!
June 26, 2013 @ 10:54 pm
I realize you already have a best friend. And probably a lot of other friends. And they are probably awesome. And I am kind of a boring girl who likes to thrift and do projects and take long walks on the beach (okay…not that last one cause that would actually be exercise). But, I would love to be your new best friend.
This is truly the bestest blog ever. You make me crack up. And I love your sense of “style” (and yes…that did have to be in quotes…sorry).
June 28, 2013 @ 12:42 pm
Someone commented on the mirror post and used the phrase: soul-troll… meaning, kindred spirits.
I’m sort of thinking that’s the best phrase ever for total strangers that might be your best friend.
xo
August 1, 2013 @ 7:27 pm
We recently paid about $500 to have 2 large cast iron fireplace mantels sandblasted & powdercoated. I found them after Christmas on Craigslist, paid $1000 for the pair. Not necessarily a bargain, but except for the corbel in the center they match our home’s other 6 mantels exactly. We drove more than 2 hours one way, to a rough section of a pretty large town, & took the freight elevator of an abandoned warehouse into the basement to pick up the fireplaces. That wasn’t the smartest thing to do, considering we’d taken cash & nobody knew we’d gone. The 2 guys who listed the mantels could have been trying to lure us into the basement to knock us out & steal our truck & money. Instead the older guy turned out to be a hoarder of military equipment who turned sullen when I turned down his offer to trade me 5 ratty old coverlets for the 2 vintage Army blankets (wool) we’d taken to protect the mantels from banging together on the trip home. We ended up keeping both mantels in the back of the truck for several weeks, until I found a guy in the next county who could refinish them. It wasn’t until they unloaded the mantels that I realized the guy hadn’t loaded the arched Summer covers for either mantel, which I assume was his way of getting revenge for my refusal to trade blankets.
But back to your planter (which may look awesome holding an appropriately-sized Christmas tree). Since you:
A. Appreciate the vintage/chippy quality of this planter; &
B. Don’t want to spend $500 or more getting it sandblasted & powdercoated
You could:
A. Wire brush the worst of the surface rust; &/or
B. Apply Naval Jelly (not the same thing as Navel Jelly!) to remove the worst rust, then blast off with a hose; OR
C. Apply a product that actually fuses with the rust, available at auto supply stores like Auto Zone (probaby also Tractor Supply or Rural King, but you’re probably miles either); THEN
D. Repaint a color you love
Wish I had time to devote to blogging, but between working 35-40 hrs/wk & DIYing in my “spare” time, I can’t seem to keep up with the blog. That’s when I started our Facebook Page, so our friends/family/community can see our work & “finds”, which I hope will help silence the “Aren’t you done with that house YET?” And yes, it’s 5400 sf & hasn’t had the interior redone–or any of the 44 huge windows properly repaired–for more than 40 years, so things NEVER.
So yes, I can sooooo empathize with how you feel about making your house into your dream house, one project at a time. We should form a sorority or something–or be committed to the same asylum. But I can SEE all the rooms totally decorated with all the wonderful things I’ve scored on eBay, Craigslist, or other sources. The dreaming is easy the easy part & also the most fun, but there’s such a sense of accomplishment from making old stuff beautiful again.
September 12, 2013 @ 10:22 am
A-mazing, can’t wait to see it done
September 12, 2013 @ 10:25 am
I have intense urn envy! Love the thought of a small Christmas tree in there! I totally relate to your need of having to own spectacular things! I am guilty of the same. Work myself into a frenzy then worry about how to get it home or where to put it later!! Love your blog.
September 12, 2013 @ 12:11 pm
It’s completely awesome.
September 15, 2013 @ 11:26 pm
Loooooove it ! Ornaments yes !! Brilliant ! ( Are you down there ? ….. No. ) LOL !
October 2, 2013 @ 9:15 am
http://www.aileenminor.com/garden-antiques/planters.cfm
These people have your urn. Now it is white? Say it ain’t so Joe!?
October 2, 2013 @ 9:18 am
I’ve seen that… it IS identical, but they seem to be missing the swag-y things on the base… you can see the faint impression left behind on theirs.
October 3, 2013 @ 12:08 am
Very glad to hear you haven’t sold it. 😉