Animal attraction: Think sphinx for a touch of timeless garden grandeur

In Italy, the lion is a symbol of prestige and power. In China, lions protect the building from harm. And, according to a Montreal estate agent, homeowners in Quebec put lions in front of the house when the mortgage was paid off.

In mid-century America, homeowners used eagle plaques, called “freedom flyers”, to communicate the same message.

These traditions may have been invented by estate agents to convince clients that mortgages are finite.

In Ireland, as in Italy, stone lions signify grandeur. They come in many shapes and sizes. Sheppard’s Glantelwe Gardens auction on June 25 and 26 has several pairs, the most magnificent of which are Coade stone sphinxes (est. €8,000 to €12,000).

The sphinx is a mythological beast with the body of a lion and a human head. It’s Egyptian in origin but many architectural sphinxes are inspired by a Greek version of the legend where the sphinx is female and ate those who couldn��t answer her riddle. What better beast to guard an Irish country house?

The sphinxes at Sheppard’s are a glorious cultural mash-up. They’re large (130cm high x 160cm deep) with muscular lion bodies, each ridden by a joyous cherub. They have female heads and torsos with braided hair under cobra headdresses and beautiful breasts.

“They belong to the Egyptian revival of the late 18th century,” says Michael Sheppard, auctioneer.

“They’re essentially Roman lions, reinterpreted for the trend for all things Egyptian. They came from Belgium originally and they’ve been in an Irish collection for the past 30 years.” The sphinxes are made of Coade stone, an early composite material with a remarkable history.

Coade stone was made at the Coade Artificial Stone Company in London between 1770 and 1833. The company was owned and run by Eleanor Coade. This impressive businesswoman perfected the technique of making artificial stone. Coade stone, which is technically a ceramic, was a breakthrough in 18th-century architecture.

It allowed decorative features to be moulded, rather than carved, and yet was strong enough to withstand the weather. Coade, who was an artist in her own right, employed skilled sculptors and managed her business adroitly. She kept the recipe and production process a secret, which added to the mystique.

After her death, the recipe was lost and the composition of Coade stone was only rediscovered in the late 20th century. “Coade stone has a soft, creamy appearance with no pitting or bubbles,” Sheppard says. “Most other moulded stone items have imperfections within the material.”

A pair of 19th-century Medici lions, each standing with one foot raised on a ball (est. €2,500 to €3,500) are almost as impressive. These too are large (112cm high x 120cm wide) and made in moulded stone. The original Medici lions were placed at the Villa Medici in Rome in 1598.

One dates from the second century; the other is a 16th-century copy commissioned by Ferdinand de Medici. They’ve been copied many times. “Lions are a representation of strength and power,” Sheppard says. “They say, ‘We are the Medici!’”

In China, half a world away, pairs of guardian lions traditionally stood in front of palaces, temples and tombs. Now they guard hotels and supermarkets. In the West, they’re sometimes called “foo dogs” but the name is misleading. They’re lions.

A pair of 19th-century marble foo dogs (est. €3,000 to €5,000) in the sale originally came from China but have been in Ireland for many generations. These too are hefty pieces (135cm high x 50cm wide x 70cm deep).

“Reusing architectural elements in a garden can be interesting, but you need to think about where they’re going to go and create a space around them,” Sheppard explains.

“Don’t just plonk them down. When they’re well-placed, the effort really pays off.”

Other interesting items in the sale include a sailing dinghy (est. €1,500 to €2,500) in mint condition. “It was made by the Barrow Boat Company in England,” says Sheppard.

A pair of handmade polished mahogany go-carts (est. €1,500 to €2,500) from the same collection are modelled on mid-century racing cars.

They’re about 30 years old and come with pedals and steering mechanisms. Going on their condition, they must have been made for a pair of exceptionally careful children.

See sheppards.ie