Repairing My Antique Lead Planters

October 18, 2018

I love urns filled with tropical plants. As many of you know, I have a rather sizable collection of tropical specimens at my Bedford, New York farm. I also have a growing collection of beautiful planters available on QVC - take a look at them by clicking anywhere on this highlighted link.

This season, as the outdoor grounds crew works hard to get all the potted plants indoors before the first true frost, I decided it was also a good time to take stock of all the planting vessels and repair those that had been dented over the years - among them, several of my antique lead planters. Lead garden ornaments are some the earliest ever made. Lead is a soft, very dense and heavy metal, which dents easily - my idea was to use a source of heat to soften it just enough, so it could be reshaped - and it worked excellently! Yesterday, my grounds crew foreman, Chhiring Sherpa, took on the task of fixing these very precious containers.

Enjoy these photos.

: The pot in the center is one of several antique lead containers that had lost some of its shape. Lead garden vessels were hugely popular in the 18th and 19th century British countryside. And they are extremely heavy – this one weighs several hundred pounds.

: Here, Ryan loosens the soil around a sago palm in another antique lead container, so it can be refurbished.

: Once it is out, Chhiring assesses the misshapen bottom to see where it needs repair. In the late 19th century, lead’s toxicity was recognized, and many of its uses were phased out and limited to architectural materials and garden ornaments. I own many antique lead vessels – some here and some at Skylands, my home in Seal Harbor, Maine.

: Some of the sides are slightly dented, mostly from being moved around the farm over the years. With the weight of the plant and soil, this container also suffered damage at the bottom where the lead was pushed down almost two-inches. These pots, though soft, are quite durable and will be usable for a long, long time.

: It is easier to see some of the timeworn damage from the inside of the planter.

: First, Chhiring suspends the vessel by strapping it securely and hanging it from the forks of our High-Lo.

: For this task, Chhiring uses a single burner propane blow torch. This will heat up the lead enough so that it can be shaped properly.

: Chhiring then heats the walls of the planter from the inside. Lead is a heavy metal that is denser than most common materials. It is also malleable, and has a relatively low melting point, which makes it easy to mold.

: It only takes a few minutes to heat up. Chhiring also heats the bottom of the planter.

: It is very important to wear all the necessary safety gear whenever working with blow torches or other pieces of potentially hazardous equipment.

: Once it is warm, using a plastic headed mallet, Chhiring begins to hammer out the dents. The lead will stay warm and malleable for some time.

: Because lead is so soft, it takes only a little bit of pressure to bang it back into shape.

: Chhiring also uses a piece of wood where larger sections of the vessel need smoother, wider repairs.

: Here Is Chhiring banging on the big dent at the bottom of the planter.

: He tackles most of it from the inside – slowly hammering the lead in place while it is still very warm.

: After some time, look at the same side where the dent had been – it’s virtually gone.

: Chhiring looks around the entire planter – it is back to its beautiful shape.

: Lead tends to be silvery with a hint of blue; it tarnishes to a dull gray color when exposed to air. I love the patina on these planters.

: The planter is still quite warm, so Chhiring checks all around for any more areas that need banging before it is left to cool. If you have a lead planter or garden ornament, never clean it with soap or any chemical product as lead can react with chemicals.

: Here is one of my blue peacocks – watching all the activity from inside the hoop house. He is standing next to one of my faux bois planters now available on QVC. If you haven’t yet seen them, go to the web site – they are made of durable resin fiber and can be used indoors and out. goo.gl/84uEuR

: Meanwhile, Chhiring gives this sago palm a fresh cut on the bottom before it is repotted. The sago palm, Cycas revoluta, is a popular houseplant known for its feathery foliage and ease of care. Sago palms prefer to be situated in well-drained soil, and like other cycad plants, do not like being overwatered.

: Here is Phurba planting the sago palm in its newly refurbished antique lead planter. One of the benefits of using lead planters is its longevity. While many garden ornaments eventually succumb to rot, rust or cracks, lead stands the test of time.