Cast iron is produced by heating iron with a high carbon content until it liquefies, and then casting the iron into moulds of compressed sand.

Cast iron was invented in China in the 5th century BC and poured into moulds to make ploughshares and pots as well as weapons and pagodas. Although steel had been invented, was in use, and was more desirable, cast iron was cheaper and thus was more commonly used for warfare in ancient China.

In the west, cast iron did not become available until the 15th century, and its earliest uses included cannon and shot, and later, cast iron cannons, which, while heavier than the existing bronze cannons, were much cheaper to manufacture and enabled more to be produced..

Cast iron pots were made at many English blast furnaces from about the 17th century. In 1707, Abraham Darby patented a method of making pots and kettles more...

62 items found:

These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

A kneeling lead figure, of a young girl on a circular base.…

A kneeling lead figure, of a young girl on a circular base. Height 68 cm. Provenance: Estate of John Lawford.

A cast-iron garden whippet, 20th century, the heavy cast iron…

A cast-iron garden whippet, 20th century, the heavy cast iron model of an animated whippet seated upright; enamel painted white. Height 63 cm

Garden gnome, 20th century, painted cast iron, with polychrome…

Polychrome Garden Gnome Statue - 68cm Height

Garden gnome, 20th century, painted cast iron, with polychrome finish, height 68 cm

Bronze Regency design mythical statue, bronze 19th century…

Winged Cherub on Mythical Beast Bronze Statue

Bronze Regency design mythical statue, bronze 19th century figure of a winged cherub riding a mythical beast on thick marble base

Bronze Regency design mythical statue, bronze 19th century…

Mythical Cherub Riding Beast Bronze Statue

Bronze Regency design mythical statue, bronze 19th century figure of a winged cherub riding a mythical beast on thick marble base

Cherub figure lead bird bath standing cherub figure supporting…

Cherub Bird Bath with Shell Design

Cherub figure lead bird bath standing cherub figure supporting a shell form bird bath, height 53 cm, diameter 40 cm.

A composite stone eagle on a patinated bronzed metal plinth,…

Composite Stone Eagle on Cherub Plinth

A composite stone eagle on a patinated bronzed metal plinth, the plinth relief moulded with cherubs in a garden, the plinth 60 cm high, 46 cm wide, 46 cm deep

Collection early 20th century 'Zinnfiguren' lead flat figures…

Early 20th Century African Zinnfiguren Collection

Collection early 20th century 'Zinnfiguren' lead flat figures by Hans Heinrichson of Nuremberg, 53 African figures and exotic animals

Cast iron figures, 2 Cats and one frog, moving heads, tallest…

Cats and Frog: Cast Iron Moving Figures

Cast iron figures, 2 Cats and one frog, moving heads, tallest 10 cm, one cat dressed as a clown and one as a lady in a green dress. The frog is wearing pants and shirt and has a broken piece on his left side.

Cardboard box house with cast iron snow white and seven Dwarves…

Snow White's Dwarves in Cardboard Box House

Cardboard box house with cast iron snow white and seven Dwarves height 5.5 cm, house is, length 13 cm, height 15 cm. Some wear to paint on figures and corners and edges of the house.

A pair of cast iron garden putti, 73 cm high

Cast Iron Putti: Charming Garden Statues

A pair of cast iron garden putti, 73 cm high

Johillco and other Manufacturers: cast metal selection…

Vintage Cast Metal Toys and Accessories Lot

Johillco and other Manufacturers: cast metal selection including Johillco station platform furniture including cigarette machines (2) post boxes (2), Nestle's confectionery machine & weighing machines (2); also haystack, dovecotes (2), road signage,…

Imperial(NZ) - lead figurines: 'Town & around Series' 54 mm…

'Imperial(NZ) Town & Around Series Lead Figurines'

Imperial(NZ) - lead figurines: 'Town & around Series' 54 mm figures including girl with kite, lady with parasol (2 types), one-man band, boy with flag, boy with drum, girl with hoop, girl with skipping rope and two others; most with original packaging;…

A pair of painted cast iron swan garden ornaments on stands,…

Pair of Cast Iron Swan Garden Ornaments on Stands

A pair of painted cast iron swan garden ornaments on stands, 20th century, 75 cm high, 33 cm wide, 45 cm deep

A bronze cherub water feature, 19th century, modelled in a…

19th Century Cherub Water Feature

A bronze cherub water feature, 19th century, modelled in a reclining pose, with a nice green patina. 47 cm high, 58 cm wide, 36 cm deep

A bronze figural group water feature, first half 20th century,…

Bronze Children on Toadstools Water Feature

A bronze figural group water feature, first half 20th century, modelled as two children playing on giant toad stools, with a nice green patina. 115 cm high, 78 cm wide, 47 cm deep

A large bronze figural group water feature, first half 20th…

Bronze Leapfrog Children Water Feature

A large bronze figural group water feature, first half 20th century, modelled as two children playing leapfrog, with a nice green patina. 142 cm high, 87 cm wide, 64 cm deep

Early painted lead figure of Penguin on fitted base, some paint…

Vintage Painted Lead Penguin Figure on Base

Early painted lead figure of Penguin on fitted base, some paint loss to head of penguin, height 6 cm.

Australian miniature lead life saving team models 1894-1944…

Australian Miniature Life Saving Team Models with Reel in Box

Australian miniature lead life saving team models 1894-1944 comprising 5 belt figures and a reel, in original box

19th century marble & bronze cherub figure, depicted mid flight…

Cherub in Flight Statue on Marble Pedestal

19th century marble & bronze cherub figure, depicted mid flight with right arm raised, a/f with left wing and item in right hand missing, raised on a stepped marble pedestal base, height 28 cm

Various artists, a standing figure, apple, rose, girl on rock,…

Metallic Collection: Figures and Objects

Various artists, a standing figure, apple, rose, girl on rock, Horseman and nude with bell, metal, stone, tin, bronze, silver, 43 cm high standing figure

Spinario, bronze statue on black marble base, 20th century, 32…

Spinario Bronze Statue on Marble Base

Spinario, bronze statue on black marble base, 20th century, 32 cm high

Two cast iron figures. Modelled of a hen and rooster. 45 & 40…

Cast Iron Hen and Rooster Figures - 45 & 40cm

Two cast iron figures. Modelled of a hen and rooster. 45 & 40 cm.

Geese vs cow. Britains lead figures

Battle of the Farmyard: Geese vs Cow

Geese vs cow. Britains lead figures

Bronze lion figure, verde de gris on Italian green marble base,…

Verde Lion on Italian Marble Base

Bronze lion figure, verde de gris on Italian green marble base, signed

A bronze garden statue, of a boy leaning on a spade, on plinth…

Bronze Boy with Spade Statue

A bronze garden statue, of a boy leaning on a spade, on plinth base, height 60 cm.

A bronze and marble statue modelled in the form of a young male…

Nude Youth Statue: Bronze and Marble

A bronze and marble statue modelled in the form of a young male nude

Pair cast iron Elephant figures each seated Elephant with trunk…

Pair of Seated Elephant Figures with Raised Trunks

Pair cast iron Elephant figures each seated Elephant with trunk raised, height 40 cm each. Cracks to back.

A pair of early Georgian lead garden statuettes, of putti with…

Georgian lead putti garden statuettes with amphorae

A pair of early Georgian lead garden statuettes, of putti with amphorae raised on their shoulders. Height 450 and 47 cm.

Garden statue standing feline holding a bowl with bronze finish,…

Bronze Feline Statue with Bowl by Diego Giacometti

Garden statue standing feline holding a bowl with bronze finish, after Diego Giacometti, height 82 cm

A contemporary Art Deco style 'Bird Girl' large garden…

Art Deco Bird Girl Garden Sculpture

A contemporary Art Deco style 'Bird Girl' large garden sculpture, composite cast with green bronze patina type finish, she stands with pleated dress, her hands outstretched to her sides supporting two bird feeding dishes, height 93 cm.

J. J. Ducel and Fils (Maitre de Forges a Paris), pair of French…

Pair of French Cast Iron Garden Lions, c. 1840

J. J. Ducel and Fils (Maitre de Forges a Paris), pair of French cast iron garden lions, c. 1840, each lion striding forward with its mouth open looking to the left, both stamped 'J. J. Ducel Ms de Forges Paris', height 91 cm, width 116 cm, depth 36 cm.…

A patinated bronze figural garden statue, the verdigris…

Verdigris Bronze Pan Statue with Flute and Shell Base

A patinated bronze figural garden statue, the verdigris patinated hollow bronze figure modelled as a pan holding a flute in one hand, standing on a shell with one leg raised, on a circular base. 136 cm high

A patinated bronze figural garden statue, the verdigris…

Verdigris Bronze Statue of Boy with Rooster

A patinated bronze figural garden statue, the verdigris patinated hollow bronze figure modelled as a young boy holding a rooster in one hand and the other hand held aloft, on a circular base. Modelled after 'Winner of the cock fight' by…

Decorative cast iron pelican garden statue height 42 cm.

Cast Iron Pelican Garden Statue - 42cm Height

Decorative cast iron pelican garden statue height 42 cm.

A pair of bronze garden lions, 19th/20th century, 48 cm high

Bronze Garden Lions, 19th/20th Century, 48cm High

A pair of bronze garden lions, 19th/20th century, 48 cm high

A pair of porcelain and cast metal cranes, 20th century,…

Porcelain and Metal Pond Cranes, 20th Century

A pair of porcelain and cast metal cranes, 20th century, modelled in standing poses, each porcelain body mounted on cast metal legs on iron brackets, intended for an outdoor pond setting, not signed, 66 cm high

French style cast iron statue of a semi clad female, 70 cm high

French Cast Iron Semi-Clad Female Statue (70 cm)

French style cast iron statue of a semi clad female, 70 cm high

Cast iron figure of a dog, circa 1930, a seated dog with a…

1930 Cast Iron Seated Dog Figure on Marble Base

Cast iron figure of a dog, circa 1930, a seated dog with a ruffled collar and a curly coat raised on a cast base, above a red veined grey marble base, height 16.5 cm, length 17.5 cm, width 9 cm

A pair of metal garden sculptures of cranes, the taller 94 cm…

Metal Crane Garden Sculptures (8 words)

A pair of metal garden sculptures of cranes, the taller 94 cm high,

A pair of 19th century lead garden figures height 72 cm the…

19th Century Lead Garden Figures - 72 cm Height

A pair of 19th century lead garden figures height 72 cm the tallest

Cast iron labrador dog statue, 24 cm high, 44 cm long

Cast Iron Labrador Statue - 24x44 cm

Cast iron labrador dog statue, 24 cm high, 44 cm long

Cast iron bulldog statue, 24 cm high, 29 cm long

Cast Iron Bulldog Statue - 24cm x 29cm

Cast iron bulldog statue, 24 cm high, 29 cm long

A vintage metal garden statue, in the form of a Greek classical…

Greek Woman Garden Statue with Flower Basket

A vintage metal garden statue, in the form of a Greek classical woman holding a basket of flowers, on conforming plinth base with grey paint finish. Height 160 cm.

A pair of bronze lions, large decorative garden or temple…

Bronze Lion Statues from Stamford Plaza, Adelaide

A pair of bronze lions, large decorative garden or temple Statues, ex Stamford Plaza, north Tce, Adelaide, height 1m

A cast iron garden statue of a woman & child carrying water,…

Mother and Child Carrying Water Garden Statue

A cast iron garden statue of a woman & child carrying water, height 77 cm

An impressive pair of cast iron lions raised on a graduated…

19th Century French Cast Iron Lion Pair on Stone Plinth

An impressive pair of cast iron lions raised on a graduated stone plinth, French, 19th century, 85 cm high, 85 cm wide, 57 cm deep

A set of four lead figures representing the four seasons,…

Four Season Lead Figures, 19th Century English, 102cm High

A set of four lead figures representing the four seasons, English, 19th century, 102 cm high

A fine large bronze garden statue of Hermes, the animated…

Bronze Hermes Garden Statue, 262cm

A fine large bronze garden statue of Hermes, the animated figure of the nude Hermes with his winged feet and helmet, poised on one foot upon a globe with his right arm stretched high, raised on a squared plinth and with a fine patina, height 262 cm

Bronze figure of an African lady, on marble base, 56 cm high

African Lady Bronze Figure on Marble Base

Bronze figure of an African lady, on marble base, 56 cm high

A bronze garden statue, a seated cherub holding a bunch of…

Bronze Cherub with Grapes

A bronze garden statue, a seated cherub holding a bunch of grapes, with rich patina. 20 x 30 cm

A fine pair of cast bronze Porch lions, a naturalistically cast…

Bronze Porch Lions, Seated Pair with Patina

A fine pair of cast bronze Porch lions, a naturalistically cast duo of seated lions with a fine patina. Height 78 cm. Width 64 cm

A bronze figure modelled of a young girl with a tambourine. 140…

Bronze Girl with Tambourine

A bronze figure modelled of a young girl with a tambourine. 140 cm high.

A bronze figure of pan. 139 cm high.

Bronze Pan Figure: 139 cm Height

A bronze figure of pan. 139 cm high.

Two antique lead figurines

Antique Lead Figurines

Two antique lead figurines

A pair of bronze garden cranes, naturalistically cast depicting…

Bronze Garden Cranes - Elegant Water Birds Statues

A pair of bronze garden cranes, naturalistically cast depicting elegantly posed crested water birds upon squared bases. Heights: 94 cm and 75 cm

A cast iron garden sculpture of a horse head, Continental,…

Continental Horse Head Garden Sculpture, 1900

A cast iron garden sculpture of a horse head, Continental, circa 1900. 44 cm high

Pair of bronze greyhound garden statues which formerly adorned…

Bronze greyhound garden statues from Spray Farm

Pair of bronze greyhound garden statues which formerly adorned the entrance to Spray Farm on the Bellarine Peninsula in Victoria. Early 20th century.

A pair of architectural bronze lion statues modelled in…

Recumbent Bronze Lion Statues - Pair

A pair of architectural bronze lion statues modelled in recumbent position, 127 cm long, 60 cm wide, and 70 cm high

A cast bronze garden sculpture of duck, English, circa 1900. 48…

Bronze Duck Garden Sculpture, 1900

A cast bronze garden sculpture of duck, English, circa 1900. 48 cm high

A pair of large finely, modelled cast bronze sculptures of…

Bronze Reindeer Sculptures with Green Patina

A pair of large finely, modelled cast bronze sculptures of reindeer. The male with antlers, the doe alert with ears pricked. These most interesting sculptures were cast by the Castlemaine foundry in the early 80s. They have been in the vendor's garden…