How do I protect terracotta lions from frost?

Terracotta absorbs moisture which can expand during freezing temperatures and cause surface spalling if drainage is poor. Elevate the bases slightly off the ground on bricks or feet during winter to prevent moisture absorption from standing water.

Can these garden lions stay outside all year?

Most materials like natural stone, reconstituted stone, cast iron and salt-glazed pottery tolerate outdoor exposure quite well. Over decades of weather, these surfaces develop a natural patina that enhances the antique character of the sculpture.

How do I tell nineteenth-century figures apart from later pieces?

Nineteenth-century examples often display deeper hand-sculpted tool marks, heavier scale and more porous clay or weathered marble structures. Twentieth-century iterations frequently utilise reconstituted stone or cleaner casting techniques with uniform surface patination.