I have known about Pennoyer – now Pennoyer Newman for years but it wasn’t until the recent AD Home Show that I had the opportunity to see their beautiful planters in person and speak with partner Virginia Newman Yocum, who joined Pennoyer in 2003 to help bring the business forward adding new designs, colors and custom sizing.
Originally founded in 1989 by Cecily Pennoyer (still an active partner and yes, aunt to talented architect Peter), the company was the first to introduce stone resin garden pots to the US. Replicas of rare and one-of-a kind originals, they are cast and replicated one at a time by hand, of stone resin, a combination of pummeled marble and rock mixed with resin. The results look identical to the lead originals and are lightweight and weather-resistant.
Their collection, including both historic and modern designs, graces prestigious parks and institutions across the country including, in NYC, Bryant Park, the rooftops of Rockefeller Center, the streets of SoHo, the Morgan Library, and The New York Botanical Garden. The use of marble and rock in their unique composition encourages the growth of moss and lichen on the containers, creating the timeless and gently aged look so many of us love for our homes and gardens.
As we are hopefully approaching warmer weather, these containers offer many stylish choices for designing our outdoor spaces. For those interested in historic interpretations, take for example the Ladew Topiary Gardens Container
Originally purchased by Harvey Ladew for his incredible topiary gardens in Monkton Maryland, this elegant planter has been restored and recast for the enjoyment of future generations. Visit what the Garden Club of America voted the “most outstanding topiary garden in America” online and you’ll see why Pennoyer Newman wanted to preserve this amazing horticultural legacy.
A purchase from Pennoyer Newman is indeed like buying a small piece of history. Although taking impressions of the Parthenon was banned at the end of the 19th century, the ones used for making the beautiful Parthenon Plaque Container were luckily made before then and we can now continue to enjoy this beautiful imagery. Individual plaques of this and two other scenes are also available to use as decorative accents.
I had to include one other piece from this category because it is so distinctive. The Torch Bearer’s Arm is not only handsome but also a practical piece. How fabulous would it be to have a pair or several of these on a terrace or by a pool holding lit torches for an evening soirée? Or bearing gigantic bouquets for a special celebration?
For those with more contemporary sensibilities, there are many elegant choices as well. The Modern Collection includes clean shapes that would lend an air of sophistication to many different architectural and design styles. Available in round, square and rectangular shapes, they can be customized to specific space requirements. The Modern Bowl Planter has a deep base for soil, good for plants requiring more depth.
The very popular Modern Rectangular Planter can be used against a wall or as dividers to create outdoor rooms. It can be interpreted in many customized sizes for a variety of applications. I think it would be fabulous as a tall box containing boxwood or yew as a visual wall for a stone terrace.
And the Modern Corner Planter is the perfect accompaniment to create a clean continuous border. I love how at their booth Pennoyer Newman used them in conjunction with the Round Cap Finials. The clean sophisticated lines gives you an idea of how all their products can mix and match to be customized for a totally unique design. Some of the planters can even be fitted with industrial wheels – your terrace design could change on a whim!!
But the temptation doesn’t end there. Pennoyer Newman also offers many other decorative categories.
Wall placques:
These heads are copied from wood originals found in butcher shops in Austrian ski villages. How great would this look in a mudroom for hanging hats or leashes.
Urns.
The long and lithe Fern Urn would add an air of classic sophistication to an entry, garden or formal path.
Seating and Statuary
The Curved Bench was cast from the original at the Guggenheim estate in Port Washington and is also available as an S Shaped Bench for charming conversation.
Bird Baths and Fountains
I love the sculptural Shell. In the smallest size, it can become a server or ice bucket at a party and in the larger sizes, can be a planter or bird bath.
Take a look at how some clients have used the wonderful products. This SoHo terrace has incorporated a wide variety of planter shapes and designs that work together and with the modern furniture beautifully.
Or this terrace with the Elizabethan Planters holding fabulous topiaries
Here is an example of a custom design for a window box that sits on a hard-to-fit ledge. Angled risers help hold it in position.
Pennoyer Newman is open to requests for custom pieces. Here is one of the their largest custom planters ever – 16′ long – being lifted onto a Tribeca roof.
The classic Morgan Della Robbia and Morgan Lead Planters form a lovely ensemble on this East Hampton deck.
And the popular Medium Florentine Square Planter is clearly an incredibly versatile piece that would be at home anywhere.
In speaking with Virgina, she emphasized that along with their legacy of exclusive historic reproductions, they are consistently updating their line with new modern pieces that can both stand alone or work in tandem with the classics. It is this melding of a historic heritage with contemporary approach and venues that makes such a collection so exciting.
Pennoyer Newman will be at several events in the spring including Trade Secrets with Bunny Williams. For a full listing, visit them here.
Such great information on such wonderful things. Love their containers and that Torch Bearer’s Arm is the best! Great post.
Beautiful, timeless pieces! The urn is my favorite!
I had no idea of their history. Just amazing. I think those topiaries on the small balcony are at John McEnroy’s NYC home. I have the real & very old iron urns, which BTW are impossible for me to move even when empty. I’m going to look for the ones you featured, which are beautiful. xx’s
These are all beautiful containers and would make any yard look sophisticated and timeless. I love the arm and I agree with you, what a fun presentation for a party!! Kathysue
Thank you so much for this write-up! I can see so many of these pieces in my mother’s yard (and of course ours when we’re back on the east coast). The Torch bearer’s arm is so versatile, quirky and fun!
I have to make this a worthy read roundup – thanks!
xoxo,
Chic ‘n Cheap Living
The terrace is fantastic, love that bench. The containers are great too.
Great post.
I love those planters! I’m about to start a secret garden and need a few and that bearer’s arm, I’ll need several, fabulous. A really great post that’s both informative and useful.
Virginia is lovely and so knowledgeable about the heritage of her designs. Loving the more modern pieces!
xxoo
You are sooo welcome!! They will be on their way to you shortly..enjoy! I love Pennoyer and have two gorgeous planters by my back door from them, beautiful quality and love the authenticity of their designs. I helped plan a wedding last year and we ordered about 14 of their planters and filled them to the brim with the biggest pale blue hydrangeas and they were just magnificnet…(it was at a yacht club so it was a more casual but very traditional wedding) Beautitul things!
I am blown away by this collection! Really would love to add some of these pieces to our own landscaping…love that you wrote “as we are hopefully approaching the warmer months…” hopefully indeed! Crossing both fingers and toes at this point!:)
Love all of this. I must have that clam shell!
Lynn
I love their work – such a fun post! xx
Gorgeous planters….especially love them in that Soho terrace garden.
Oh, how I would love to have some of these anchoring my backyard patio!!
garden design is still such a pleasure for me as well as having been a business of mine for awhile…seeing these pots and urns makes me miss designing all over again..could see these in some of my former clients homes and gardens….
maureen
I love every single piece, and the Torch Bearer’s Arm… what fun! Wonderful, wonderful. ; )
Gorgeous! I can see them overflowing with summer flowers on our porch and deck. The fern urn is perfect.
What a great posting!
I added new columns to the front of my house made from the same marble and resin recipe, and it’s an amazing material. It’s extremely light, looks like stone or concrete and will support thousands of pounds.
Wow, thanks for the introduction, q! This is right up my alley.
This company’s work is amazing, and there is so much to choose from.
Hope that your week is off to a great start.
Teresa
xoxo
These planters are absolutely beautiful. I was unaware of this company and love classic design such as this. These would work well in my garden. I am going on their website immediately. Will forward your post to all my gardening friends in Los Angeles!
I love it all, especially the bulls head and the shell. Thanks for sharing…at some point I would like a large English garden in my back yard with planters, benches and of course plants galore. Hope you had a lovely weekend!
Love the second photo planters with the vegetable garden in them!
xo Cathy
Love need want the bull!! The arm thing may be the scene of a few bumped heads though… excellent choice Q!
Wouldn’t 4 of those looks so wonderful around my back patio. I would choose the grey ones with the small design in the center. They would dress a small area up with little else!
The second photo with the veggie-plants looks so amazing. If I would only have a big garden:) Happy Monday, my dear
Kisses
I adore their gorgeous planters, but I’m totally obsessed with the butcher shop bull!!
Absolutely love it all! I have admired her/their work for a long time, brilliant concepts and execution.
I think that bull fitted with a spout in the mouth would be a very whimsical faucet ‘head’ above the limestone sink in my new potting shed! thank you for that wonderful tour….
Love the fern urn (say that five times fast!) and the bull head….it’s nice to see garden items, so ready for spring!
xo J~
I have such a thing for planters, you have no idea how much I enjoyed this. These are just stunning and I love that they’re lightweight!
xo Mary Jo
Gorgeous photos and post. Thanks for sharing the backstory. The planters have been a long time favorite, because they are so elegant and timeless!
Love them all. So classic and beautiful. I want that cow head!!! I could take one of each, really. I need to check out their site. Thanks. Mona
What a wonderful and thorough post on an amazing product and company. You have the ability to make everything so enjoyable to read, and I always come away wanting to know more. I love their stuff and as we meandered the AD show together, you spotted them — good eye. xo tamara
What beautiful pieces! I love the patina of them. I’d like about a dozen nestled in pea stone and surrounded by boxwood.