220 THE FORMAL GARDEN IN ENGLAND ix 



some covered with stone-dust to imitate stone, 

 a gratuitous insult to lead, which will turn to 

 a delicate silvery gray, if left to its own de- 

 vices ; but there is no doubt that these figures 

 were often gilt and painted different colours. 

 Melbourne also possesses the most magnificent 

 lead vase in England. It stands on a stone 

 pedestal some 5 feet 3 from the ground. The 

 vase itself, which is over 7 feet high, is supported 

 by four monkeys and richly ornamented ; its 

 modelling is admirable. 



Other good instances are to be found at 

 Hampton Court, Wrest, and Penshurst. At 

 Sprotborough, in Yorkshire, there are some 

 vases, apparently from the same mould as those 

 at Penshurst. At the same place there are 

 two lead toads about 9 inches long, said 

 to have belonged to the fountains, and no 

 doubt suggested by those at Versailles. At 

 Wootton, in a fountain behind the house, there 

 is a lead duck suspended so as to swim on 

 the water and spout water from its bill. There 

 are many other instances of the use of lead 

 for the details of garden ornament. It is a 

 material that might well be brought into use 

 again for the same purpose. It is durable 

 and inexpensive, though it must not be used 

 in a niggardly way. Lead statues very easily 

 lose their centre of gravity, and when once 

 they begin to move over they become ex- 

 ceedingly comic. The flying Mercury at 



