Garden Lanterns

 

There was a time when lanterns were an essential feature of any home. Along with open candles, candle lanterns were the source of light for inside a house and outside.

Candles, though, in practical terms became almost obsolete in the home when electricity became commonplace. Yet, candles have both a nostalgic and spiritual appeal that have endured; in fact, candles have experienced a revival in recent years and are not just kept for power failures but as a feature of home decor.

In the garden, driven by a combination of nostalgia and sheer attractiveness of design, lanterns have continued the candle tradition. Sometimes the candles are replaced by an electric bulb, but the lantern designs of today are very much based on traditional models.

That, to me, is understandable, because antique lantern designs have an enduring attraction. Their homely rustic appeal, which goes back many centuries, is just as warming to the modern family despite all their mod cons.

Fortunately, for those seeking to use lanterns as part of their garden decor, the vintage styles are easy to find online. These are generally aimed at indoor or occasional outdoor use, and are excellent for porchways and garden terraces.

The top lantern shown is a brass lantern based on a late 18th century design. While the originals would have been a bright tin, bronze is used because of the possibilities of achieving an aged finish, to meet the nostalgic element of the lantern market. The second picture is another metal, copper, which has been given an antique look. This modern candleabra comfortably combines the modern with the traditional, and creates rustic appeal to any house or garden.

The use of copper with an antique finish is used in the four candle lantern on the left. As you can see, this is a good combination with brick, giving you traditional materials and style in a modern environment.

The flexibility of the lantern is one of its appeals in the garden. Those that come with a ring on the top can be hung just about anywhere suitable in the garden. On a balmy evening when you are eating outside, or for a garden party after dark, strategically placed lanterns can provide not just a little bit of light, but an ambient atmosphere also.

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