Animal magnetism: How to use sculpture to create a garden focal point

Irish Examiner

06-06-2025

When we think about creating beautiful outdoor spaces, our minds often jump to colour schemes, planting plans, or hard landscaping. But one of the most powerful tools in a garden designer's toolbox is something quite simple: the focal point.
A garden, like a good painting, benefits enormously from a strong composition. And every good composition needs something to draw the eye, a centrepiece that invites you in and gives meaning to the space around it. It could be a tree, a water feature, or a well-placed bench. But increasingly, I'm drawn to the character and charm of sculpture, especially when it speaks to our landscape, our heritage, and our imagination.
Over the years, I have found that one of the most exciting sources for this kind of focal point is local auction houses. Sourcing garden focal points from auction houses ensures your piece of statuary is unique, not forgetting often highly collectable, sustainable and durable within your garden space. One particular auction that comes to mind is the annual Summer Garden Sale, hosted by Cavan-based Victor Mee Auctions.
Victor Mee's yearly garden auction has become something of a fixture on the calendar for designers, collectors, and garden lovers alike. And for good reason, as the catalogue is always full of personality, ranging from grand classical pieces to the delightfully unexpected smaller statues and useful garden items.
This year, there's a particularly enchanting theme running through the sculptural line-up: traditional Irish woodland and farm animals. We're talking everything from a proud parade of sheep and a pair of pigs mid-snuffle to a flurry of hares in full motion.
There are geese, life-sized horses, and even a dramatic sculpture of a horse and jockey clearing a fence, all of which are full of energy and storytelling potential.
These garden focal points do more than simply decorate a space. They become part of the garden's soul. Animal sculptures, in particular, have a unique ability to connect us with the land. They reflect the rhythms of Irish life, from the fields to the farms, and they carry with them a sense of nostalgia and folklore.
A bronze hare mid-leap can remind us of the flash of movement through a dewy meadow. A grouping of cast-iron sheep brings a sense of calm and familiarity, especially in more urban settings. And a pair of pigs can make even the most formal garden feel grounded and playful.
These kinds of focal points do something quite magical in a garden. They catch the eye, spark curiosity, and bring humour and heart into the space. They give you a second to pause, and for me, that's what a great garden is all about.
It's not just about plants and paving, which of course are so important, but it's also about creating a place that draws you in and asks you to look again.
The beauty of a piece from auction houses like Victor Mee's Garden Sale is in its individuality.
Every item is chosen with care, and in Victor Mee's case, many items were held back throughout the year to make this sale a true event. Whether it's a traditional stone urn, a whimsical bronze fox, or a reclaimed wrought-iron bench, each item brings a distinct voice to the garden. And when you build your design around a piece with this kind of presence, the rest of the garden naturally falls into rhythm.
It's a trend I'm seeing more and more — garden owners wanting not just style, but story. They want their outdoor spaces to reflect who they are and where they come from.
Of course, placing a sculpture well is just as important as choosing the right one. Think about framing it with planting, whether that be tall grasses for movement, wildflowers for contrast, or clipped hedging for formality. Let it surprise people around a corner or make it the centrepiece of your view from the kitchen window.
A garden focal point doesn't need to be big to be bold, it's about presence, not size. It should invite interaction, whether that's contemplation, a smile, or even a selfie!
The Victor Mee Summer Garden Sale doesn't just offer antiques and oddities; it offers the chance to bring a piece of the story into your space. So this summer, if you're thinking of refreshing your garden or starting from scratch, begin with the focal point.
Let it be something that brings joy, sparks a memory, or simply makes you stop and smile. Because that, to me, is what gardening is all about.
Victor Mee Auctions' annual Summer Garden Sale will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 10 and 11, live and online from the Co Cavan family-run auction house.
Public viewing will take place on location at Victor Mee Auctions, Cavan auction rooms on June 7 and 8 from 12pm-5pm and on June 9 from 10am-5pm.
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