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POA
A monumental Moorish mid-Victorian wrought iron Pergola or Decorative Garden Structure, a masterpiece in High Victorian ironwork design. This Pergola was built around the same time as Paxton's Crystal Palace for the Great Exhibition of 1851 albeit on a smaller scale. I purchased this in Argentina originally for my personal use and had it shipped back to London early in 2000. Argentina was probably the richest country in the world in the late Victorian period and through into the early 20th century and why some of the rarest and most valuable Works of Art from Europe have turned up there. In Great Britain, France and Germany the Industrial revolution was full steam ahead supplying the world with their wares. The British supplied many of the trains, tracks and even complete train stations to Argentina, mirror images of our own great Victorian train stations which were shipped out complete and erected there. The pergola was removed from a large homestead and ranch in Argentina dating from the early 1800's that was pulled down in the 1970s when it was rescued by an old Rancher who stored it in one of his barns where we purchased it. We have done some research on it's origin and we think the Pergola is probably French and it dates from around circa 1850. This could also be hired out for weddings and parties. I originally considered having two custom-built canvases one for the left and one for the right-hand sides made to go over the whole structure designed so it is easy to roll up the sides and tie them back. The onion would need a custom-made onion-shaped cover that slips on like a big woolly hat with the bottom splayed out longer to sit on top and cover the left and right-hand side canvases to keep it all dry beneath. These could be thrown on and tied down in less than an hour making it watertight with open or even enclosed sides, making it easy to be stored away over the winter. The Pergola all bolts together so it can be easily erected and taken down in a day, it is presently dismantled and will fit on three or four large pallets ready to ship anywhere in the world. I had the pergola restored in Argentina before I had it shipped back and you can see in the latter images the various pieces which have been sandblasted back to the metal and then hand painted with rust-resisting red oxide paint. Now ready for the final coats of paint awaiting the color of your choice. Image 15 is a close-up of the uprights which are four pieces of angle bar welded together. Image 16 shows the flat square feet or pads which have been replaced with the same style plates and then 4 braces welded to the plates and the uprights for extra strength. Finally, four holes are drilled in each foot plate so one can bolt it securely and safely to the ground. I've been quoted £3800 to have it professionally powder painted in the UK for outside use.
