<I>Aquarium, octagonal with fountain</I>

ca. 1860

Cast-iron and glass octagonal aquarium/terarrium with fountain. Four of the eight corner posts have plant cups screwed in, while the other four have decorative bellflower finials. The pedistal is comprised of central post with three feet radiating out from base. There is a drainage hole, 3/4" diameter, near center of glass container, leading into an iron pipe that descends through the pedestal for the fountain pump. The floral and foliate motifs are typical of the Naturalistic style of the nineteenth century. Naturalism, the realistic reproduction of the beauties of nature, was a popular style in the Victorian era. Though it appears as early as the 1840’s in America, naturalistic designs continued to the 1900s. This was in part due to the influence of the natural sciences, and interest in nature and gardening, which spread through the upper and middle classes in the nineteenth century. Naturalistic designs incorporated floral, foliate, fruit, vegetal, and animal forms into furnishings and decorative objects for the home and garden. Popular subjects included grapes, cornstalks, ferns, Solomon seal or laurel leaf, passion flowers, lilies of the valley, morning glories, oak leaves, acorns, vines, and roses.