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Gardening Tips

Articles

La salamandre

Details: Category: Garden Features; Published on Tuesday, 26 May 2009 10:09; Written by Graham; Hits: 495

This garden feature was found at a brocante in the spring of 2009. I had spotted it a couple of months earlier, but though the price tag of € 40 rather expensive for a garden ornament. On a later visit I was happy to see the price reduced to € 15 and couldn't resist buying.

The “salamandre” is made of cast-iron, and weighs in at around 20 kg. I had a couple of ideas how we might display the “dragon”, but puzzled over its real function for a few days until friends found an entry on the French Wikipedia site.

The salamandre was actually used in an open hearth in the place of a "dog grate" to support burning wood. The air inside the curved tube heats up and rises to exit from the dragon's open mouth which is directed towards the room, thus providing a convection current to increase the thermal output of the fire.

For us it's just going to be a decorative item, though we do have an open hearth in the kitchen and might try it out. For the time being we have put him close to the swing seat and I the evening put incense cones in the dragon's mouth to give the effect of smoke. With a well-directed spot-light the effect is charming and helps deter mosquitoes.

I have added a photograph to the French Wikipedia site, where you can also find the description by clicking http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salamandre

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