Pair Of Sandstone Urns In The Italian Garden, Chillingham Castle

The pair of sandstone urns are 18th century garden features located within the Italian Garden at Chillingham Castle. They are constructed from sandstone and, while not identical, appear to have been sculpted as a pair. Each urn is composed of five sections: the lower section is scalloped and decorated with four stone heads; the upper section is fluted and incorporates a pair of caryatids (sculpted female figures) and two roundels. These roundels depict carvings in relief of gods and goddesses representing the four elements. The northern urn portrays Air (Jupiter) and Water (a water goddess, possibly Amphitrite), while the southern urn depicts Fire (Vulcan) and Earth (a harvest goddess, possibly Ceres). The urns are topped with scrolled and gadrooned designs. The contemporary concrete bases on which the urns stand are not considered of special interest.

Historically, the urns were incorporated into the Italian Garden when formal gardens were designed by Sir Jeffrey Wyatville around 1823. Photographs from around 1900 confirm their original location and show them alongside a pair of marble urns that have since been removed. The sandstone urns were relocated to gate piers at the Estate House in approximately 1982, resulting in their listing in 1985. They were returned to their original position in the Italian Garden in 2007. The urns are significant examples of 18th-century garden ornamentation, demonstrating considerable sculptural quality and contributing to the interest of the Grade II registered landscape. They have group value with several listed buildings at Chillingham, most notably the Grade I listed Castle.