featured item
7 Antique and Vintage finds to get your garden ready for summer
Posted by Chris on 04/04/2025
Our expert inspiration to help you get your garden summer-ready with these seven different types of antique and vintage pieces.
As the days get longer and the sun shines a little brighter, it’s time to think about making your garden a peaceful and beautiful place to enjoy.
Once you've scrubbed the algae and moss off of your patio or decking, and divided your perennials, you might want to enhance your garden's accoutrements.
One great way to add charm and character to your garden or outdoor space - no matter its size - is with antiques. These unique items really do bring a sense of history and style that modern garden pieces often lack. Sorry, Argos!
Here are seven types of antiques you can buy now to get your garden ready for summer - with suggestions of pieces that you can buy right now direct from sellers on Antiques.co.uk
P.S. Scroll to the end to see our Expert's Choice Bonus Item!
Pictured: Victorian Coalbrookdale cast iron & oak nasturtium pattern garden seat bench, c.1870. Price: £2,000
1. Cast Iron Furniture
Sturdy and timeless, cast iron tables and chairs are perfect for garden dining or relaxing with a cup of tea. Look for Victorian or Edwardian pieces with ornate designs. While some may need a bit of sanding or repainting, these items were made to last and can be a real statement in your garden.
Antiques.co.uk's recommendations:
- Cast iron Britannia circular pub table, c.1880
- Circular marble table on a cast iron ornate base
- Rare set of original Victorian cast iron garden furniture
- A monumental cast iron boot scraper
Pictured: c19th Sculptural stone planter. Price: £POA
2. Planters, Urns & Jardinieres
Nothing says elegance like a weathered stone planter, jardiniere or patinated metal urn. Antique urns made from limestone or terracotta are especially sought-after. They often feature classical designs, like lions or floral patterns, and look stunning when overflowing with summer flowers.
Antiques.co.uk's recommendations:
- c.19thC copper planter
- Pair of French early 19th Century bronze urns on marble bases
- Cast brass Qing period Chinese jardinière
- Copper & Brass jardiniere, 1850
- Large Copper and Brass planter c.1860
- Huge pair of Palmwood planters
> See all planters, urns and jardinieres
Pictured: Mid 20th century composition stone figure of Apollo. Price: £500
3. Garden statues & reliefs
From Roman goddesses to quirky animals, antique garden statues and reliefs can be both beautiful and fun. Weathered over time, these pieces blend naturally into your outdoor space. Whether you choose a grand centrepiece or something small and hidden among the plants, statues and reliefs bring personality to a garden.
Antiques.co.uk's recommendations:
- Ancient southeast Asia stone absara relief
- English life sized, glazed stone head of a Hellenistic youth
- English stone relief plaque depicting a Classical archer, c.1930's
- Stone composition: 'Lovers', 20thC
- Large sculptural C18th stone torchere finial
- Ancient southeast Asia stone torso
> See all stone pieces, sculpture and reliefs
Pictured: Rare Set of Genuine Antique Cast & Wrought Iron Gates with Matching Railings. Price: £POA
4. Gates, Railings & Screens
Even if you’re not planning to fence off your entire garden, a vintage gate, antique screen or a section of railing can be used decoratively. Lean it against a wall, use it as a plant trellis, or turn it into a frame for climbing roses. Wrought iron pieces from the 19th and early 20th century are especially charming.
> See all screens and wrought iron pieces
Pictured: Victorian copper watering can. Price: £275
5. Old Garden Tools
While you might not want to use them, antique garden tools make lovely decorative pieces. Hang them on a wall or place them in a wooden crate near the shed. Rusty spades, wooden-handled rakes, and vintage watering cans all add a rustic touch.
Pictured: Illuminated Sculpture In the style of Naum Gabo, 1940-50. Price: £475
6. Vintage & Antique Outdoor Lighting
Lanterns and lamps from the early 1900s can be rewired for modern use or simply displayed as is. Whether they’re made of brass, copper, or wrought iron, these lighting pieces create a warm glow and an inviting atmosphere on summer evenings.
That being said, most won't comply with outdoor IP-rated usage - so you could simply use them as decorative items, or fix them in covered places away from the elements on a pergola or conservatory.
Antiques.co.uk's recommendations:
- Vintage industrial bunker lights made in the former Soviet Union
- Pair of bold gilt large wall lights in gilt metal
- Set of four large American Modernist wall lights in lacquered brass, 1960s
- Chinoiserie hand painted standard light
- Set of four 1960`s French brass wall lights
- 1950s Spanish wall light
Pictured: Mid-century brass wall bell with a leather strap. Price: £85
7. Architectural Salvage & Industrial
Bits of old buildings—like carved stone corbels, wooden window frames, or ornate tiles—can be cleverly reused in the garden. Turn a stone column into a birdbath, or place a reclaimed door against a wall for a shabby-chic backdrop. These pieces are full of character and offer endless creative options.
Antiques.co.uk's recommendations:
- Neat low oak staved barrel, c.1900
- 17thC Earthenware Jug
- Unusual Vallauris Illuminated Ceramic Wall Standing Fountain
- Pietra Dura large outside or in table, inlaid with precious stone table and base
> See all architectural & industrial items
Expert's Choice: Bonus item
Pictured: Wonderful 1930s style large bamboo garden sofa. Price: £1,950
We adore this bamboo sofa made in the colonial style!
Why choose antiques for your garden?
Adding antiques to your garden isn’t just about decoration — it’s about creating a space that feels special and full of stories. And let's be honest: plastic planters and furniture really can't beat an equivalent piece that's been around for 100+ years.
This summer, explore your local antique shop, car boot sale, or online marketplace. You might just find the perfect piece to turn your garden into a peaceful retreat with a dash of old-world charm.
Read next: Antique Inspiration for your Edwardian Summer Garden Party