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Gargoyles

	The first known Gargoyle statues and figures, date from the Roman era, and were made of terra cotta. Over the years, as the gargoyle became a fixture on various buildings, but particularly churches, the terra cotta gave way to wood, and by the medieval era, they were carved primarily in stone, a permanent part of the structures.

Gargoyle Statuary

Eye-catching figure
Stone finish resin
12.25 x 9.25 x 13 inches

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Gargoyle Watching Statuary

Creepy décor
Stone finish resin
12.25 x 2 x 13.25 inches

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Thinking Gargoyle Statue

Unique Gargoyle Figurine
8 1/2 Inches Tall
Handpainted Resin

Gargoyle Bookends

Mythological character
Stone finish resin
5.75 inches high

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Gargoyle Fountain

Marvellous details
9 x 7.5 inches

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Gargoyle Thinker Table

Mythological character
Painted resin, glass
23 x 16 inches long

Sitting Gargoyle Figurine

Gothic Design
8 1/4 Inches Tall
Handpainted Resin

Gargoyle Wall Plaque - Chernobog

Outstanding craftsmanship
Handpainted resin
8.5 x 7.75 inches long

Gargoyle Deimos

Finely detailed
Handpainted resin
7.5 x 16.5 inches

Gargoyle Wall Plaque - Cernunnos

Incredible wall art
Handpainted resin
9 x 9.25 inches long

Gargoyle Erebus

Striking design
Handpainted resin
6.5 x 6 inches long

Gargoyle Conall

Incredible detailing
Handpainted resin
6.5 x 6.5 inches

Home > Collectible Figurines > Fantasy Figurines > Gargoyles

Gargoyles

In this time period, the gargoyle’s appearance was usually a mixture of man and beast, sometimes weighted in likeness, to one or the other. They were often found at the end of water spouts, or drains, as a means of keeping the water funneled away from a building’s foundation. Eventually, sometime around the 16th century when piping for water became more the norm, gargoyles were relieved of their water carrying duties and took on a purely decorative status.

Exactly where they got their name, or what their purpose is, becomes a blur of legend and lore. The term “gargoyle” is derived from the Latin “gurgulio” and old French “gargouille”, both of which not only mean “throat”, but also the gurgling sound that water makes.

In France, an old legend states that around 600A.D. a dragon called Le Gargouille lived by the River Seine, where he would emerge from his cave to eat and burn ships. To keep him from their doorsteps, the people of Rouen were required to feed him a victim every year, supposedly a virgin, but they generally tossed him a convict. That year, the priest St. Romanus, asked that he be allowed to deal with the dragon, upon which the people of Rouen promised to build a church and be baptized. The priest and that year’s victim entered the woods, and returned later, leading the dragon by a rope made from the priest’s robes. The people built a great pyre, and tied the dragon to a stake, where he was then burned. All except the head and neck, which survived because they were used to the fiery temperatures of the dragon’s breathing.

From then on, a dragon-like head and neck, were purportedly used for the purpose of frightening off evil spirits. Other folktales say that gargoyles represent the faces of devils as they were chased from churches, and frozen in stone as they fled.

As centuries passed, the gargoyle took on various forms. The original man-animal combination, while frequently a fearsome thing, were also sometimes whimsical, and bore a striking resemblance to a patron who had ordered a building, the priest of a church, or even the sculptor himself. When gargoyles came off the roof and waterspouts, to guard gateways and building entrances, they were more likely to be a combination of animals, or chimeras. Enthusiasts refer to these whole figures (as opposed to the neck/head) as “grotesques”, but most people seeing the stone figures classify them all as gargoyles.

These amazing and monstrous faces leering atop churches, or leaning over the ledge of educational institutions, are not solely the property of countries with more ancient histories than America. New York city boasts many building bursting with the grotesque little guys.

Gargoyle statues make great gifts for the history buff, or just for the person who likes to collect the unusual. Gardeners will get a kick out of a gargoyle amongst their geraniums. Executives who enjoy the relaxing sound of water running, will have a unique conversation piece when they add a gargoyle fountain to the office. Or for the reader of architectural history, a set of gargoyle bookends, to keep their books in line.