Garden Urn, Garden, Arniston House

Probably dating from the mid-18th century and likely designed by James Adam, this is an octagonal carved stone ornamental urn situated within the garden at Arniston House. The urn sits on an octagonal pedestal, which has a two-stepped base and a carved key frieze. The square base of the urn is elaborately carved with scrolled panels and topped with a domed finial. The urn originally formed part of the Wilderness, a landscape designed to the west of Arniston House, which was planted with larch and evergreen trees. Serpentine and symmetrical paths extended through the Wilderness, converging at a central point marked by Adam’s urn. It may be the “vase” referred to by Mary Cosh. Historical records, including James Adam’s sketchbooks, and references in publications on landscape gardening and architecture, document the urn’s existence and significance.