Rare Pair of Scottish Victorian Cast-Iron Horse-Head Gatepost Finial Sculptures | Attributed to Glasgow School Influenced Style Design Of Macfarlane’s Saracen Foundry c.1890

Subject & Medium

This distinguished pair of late Victorian Scottish horse-head gatepost finials embodies the era’s passion for equestrian imagery as a timeless symbol of strength, guardianship, and aristocratic refinement.

Hand-cast in heavy iron and retaining remnants of their original black painted surface, these finials were conceived not only as protective cappings for grand estate entrances, but as bold architectural statements—announcing wealth, prestige, and permanence.

Composition & Technique

Expertly modeled with striking naturalism, the busts capture the vitality of the horse with alert ears, muscular definition, and noble expression.

• Executed in solid cast iron, each weighs over 8.5kg.

• The robust contours and elegant arched necks reflect the high standards of design and craftsmanship associated with the Glasgow School.

• Surviving traces of their painted finish, combined with time-softened patina and weathering, attest to their authenticity and historic presence.

While not intended as portraits of a specific breed, their form evokes the archetype of the 19th-century stallion—an ideal celebrated for speed, strength, and loyalty.

Attribution

This pair is attributed to the Glasgow School Influenced style design of Saracen Foundry of Walter Macfarlane & Co., Glasgow, whose ornamental ironwork was celebrated internationally in the late 19th century.

Macfarlane’s designs were admired for blending artistic flourish with industrial precision, and the firm’s export market reached both Britain’s great estates and civic commissions across the United States.

About the Foundry

Founded in 1851, the Saracen Foundry quickly established itself as the foremost producer of decorative cast iron. Its works—ranging from fountains and statuary to architectural fittings—were shipped worldwide and remain sought-after today for their enduring blend of artistry and engineering.

Dimensions 

• Height: 27 cm 

• Width at base: 18.5 cm 

• Depth: 27 cm 

• Weight: 8.5 kg (18.7 lbs.) each; 17 kg (37.4 lbs.) combined

Provenance

From a notable auction in England’s Northern Lake District.
Now curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD.

Why Collectors Will Value Them

• Rare survivors of late Victorian equestrian design, over 130 years old.

• Attributed to Glasgow School, the pre-eminent makers of 19th-century decorative cast iron.

• Dual appeal as both architectural fittings and sculptural works of art.

• Richly symbolic — horses as emblems of loyalty, guardianship, and nobility at the threshold of great estates.

• Highly desirable for collectors of equestrian art, architectural salvage, and British decorative ironwork.

Condition

Fine antique condition, consistent with age and exposure.

• Later overpainting, with areas of flaking paint and surface rust.

• Expected wear: scuffs, scratches, and patination throughout.

• Structurally sound and ready for sympathetic conservation, repainting, or display as-is with historic surface intact.

These features reinforce the authenticity and enduring character of outdoor ironwork from the Victorian era.

Shipping

Worldwide Shipping Available — Professionally packaged and fully insured for secure international delivery.

Available exclusively through Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD — Inquire now to secure this rare pair of equestrian gatepost finials.