Replicas of the two stove top figures have returned to frame the woodland view to the Vista Ending Arch in the Peony Garden. The original pieces, dating back to the 19th century, were made of cast iron and although their outward appearance was unblemished, their interior—which was hollow—suffered from intensive rusting due to condensation. The new figures are made of a cast resin and were reproduced by A. Thayer Smith. The male figure is easily recognizable as George Washington but the female figure has a bit more mystery tied to her identity. Often referred to as “Martha Washington” or “Jenny Lynd” or “Lady Liberty,” our Estate Historian confirmed that the “generic female” could have been “whatever female figure a salesman needed at the time” however H.F. DuPont referred to her as “Martha.” Whoever she is, the return of the two stove top figures is the finishing touch to the restoration work that has occurred in Peony Garden this year.

This past year has been a notable one for the restoration of the garden. One of the most visible changes has been the return of architectural detail to the garden; statuary, cisterns, furniture and metalwork that were either in disrepair or no longer existing have been painstakingly restored or recreated to help us recapture the feel of a historic garden.

The Hippocampus is once again center-stage as a feature of the fountain display in the Reflecting Pool and the newly placed Sundial helps emphasize the half-circle landing on the Reflecting Pool staircase.

A bench, bird bath, gates and cistern provide the formal detail that complements the new plantings of the Box Scroll Garden. Missing finials on the railings were replaced and painted.

The Loggia at the East Terrace has seen the return of the shipbreak furniture, a cistern complete with working water feature and chandelier. The lighting on the Porch of the Dupont Dining Room, across from the Loggia, is also enhanced by the addition of three chandeliers.

The plants outside of the Conservatory are anchored by a pair of newly placed cisterns at either end of the flagstone patio.

An extraordinary amount of time and craftsmanship has gone into the replacement of these features and is a result of the generous support of our donors, the craftsmanship of A. Thayer Smith and Heritage Metalworks, and the efforts of our own Winterthur staff.