Walter S. Arnold, Sculptor/Stone Carver: Classically Trained in Italy. Custom hand-carved stone sculpture. Made in the USA and Italy.

Walter S. Arnold Sculptor/Stonecarver: Classically Trained in Italy. Custom hand-carved stone sculpture. Made in the USA and Italy.Classically Trained in Italy. Custom hand-carved stone sculpture. Made in the USA and Italy.
 
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Lion Niche Fountains for an Entry Gate

I carved these two large limestone niches with lion fountains for the entry gate of an estate in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
Click any photo to see a larger image.
    

Lion heads, carving almost finished

The lion heads on workbenches in my studio. At this point the carving was nearly finished.
Finished carving of lions head Finished lions head for the fountain

Each lion has a slightly different personality, reflected in their eyes.
I drilled holes from their mouths through the back of the stone. Water will cascade down into the bowls, and overflow the bowls into the basins of the fountains.

Detail of the eyes of a lion detail of the lions mane
Detail photos of my limestone carving
Stone masons install the fountains
The stone masons spent several days installing the two fountains. Each limestone niche is 7'8" tall (233 CM).
Each niche  is made up of 5 large blocks of stone (the pedestal, bowl, lion, curved riser and dome). They are trimmed with molding stones running up the sides and arching over the dome. A keystone tops it off. The large blocks weigh between 400 and 900 lbs each.
Water is piped through the mouths, spills over  the bowl into the basin, and is recirculated.
Installation of the fountain Standing by the completed fountain