 | A long, long, time ago, these little guys spouted off a lot. In fact, a regular stream of stuff poured from them, but that stuff was water. Gargoyles are a little piece of history, that has enjoyed a long run of popularity, and gargoyle gifts are as popular an item today, as they were two thousand years ago.
Way back in the Roman era, they started life as man/animal hybrids whose heads served as the mouth of drainpipes that directed water away from a villa’s foundation. Gargoyles continued to serve up “aqua vitae” as the head from which water flowed into fountains for Man and beasts alike. That initial use is thought to be responsible for their name, which is derived from the Latin “gurgulio” which not only means throat, but the sound of running water.
So charmed were sculptors with this engaging if odd looking creature, they soon gave them bodies, and the now whole figures were referred to as “grotesques”. Whether they were that ugly or not, they aspired to greater heights than the local watering hole, and over the centuries, gargoyles became fixtures on churches, educational institutions, and other buildings of grandeur. The basic design however, never strayed far from that mythological combination of Man and animal, but sometimes leaned further towards the Man, often taking on a distinct resemblance to whoever had ordered the figures, or even the sculptor.
As a creature of history and mythology, the gargoyle has a large following, even in this modern era, and gargoyle gifts for the enthusiast, are a great idea for any special occasion, with a range of choices that will make wonderful conversation pieces.
If you’re holding a housewarming party for a friend or family member, who has a passion for pieces of the past, why not get together and give the recipient a whole room of their favorite statuary?
Gargoyle gifts make great accents for a room décor that is not already “busy” with patterned materials or wallpapers. Since most of them will come in natural stone colors, they make an excellent foil for bright cushions, curtains and throw rugs.
Start with a gargoyle pillar table, an elegant piece of furniture (believe it or not), which features gargoyle carvings in cold cast resin, and a glass top, with rounded edges. Add to the overall theme with a gargoyle wall shelf, which has intricate detailing, and the perfect surface to display the pieces from your gargoyle tic tac toe set.
Have they got a corner of the room outfitted as a planetarium? That’s just the place to put a gargoyle water fountain, in the true Roman style, with the head spouting water from its mouth, into the bowl underneath. It comes with a circulating pump that will keep the water and conversation, flowing.
Announce their historical interests to the world, with a pair of Victorian style gargoyle statues to guard each side of the steps outside. Or get pedestals and mount them on either side of the driveway.
Gargoyle gifts can be as much fun, as they are striking. Indulge your fantasy fanatic with a thinking gargoyle statue to sit on his desk at home or work. Hunched, and ruminating, it will say to the world “I’m thinking”, “I’m not in the mood”, or just “I have flaky friends that give me funky gifts”!
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