Our History
Since 2002, renowned garden design and antiques authority, Michelle LeBlanc, sold these pieces through her iconic New Orleans garden gallery, French Fountains. Now, French Fountains has transitioned into a full time design, casting and procurement business, the French Casting Company. Michelle LeBlanc discovered the elements of our “French Fountain Collection” of hand-carved French limestone fountains in the village of Avignon in the south of France. For over 10 years our skilled artisans and fabricators have been creating exact replicas of these time-honored fountains. These meticulously crafted stone castings provide the timeless, old world beauty of an antique French fountain at a fraction of the cost. Designers and clients from all over the country have purchased our fountains for their enduring beauty.
The French Casting Company creates authentic, detailed replicas of 17th, 18th, and 19th century French fountains and garden-ornaments with beautiful aged finishes and exquisite details in our New Orleans warehouse. We are also New Orleans’ premier source for antique European and American fountains and yard ornaments.
Stone Casting of 17th and 18th century French Provincial Fountains
OUR STORY BEGAN IN THE HEART OF PROVENCE in 2002 when our company’s founder, Michelle Simonette LeBlanc, travelled through the countryside in the south of France in search of exquisite French garden antiques for her soon to open New Orleans St. Charles Avenue gallery. Arriving in Avignon for a fall festival, she discovered a wonderful source for authentic hand-carved limestone 17th century French Provincial Town fountains. Water cascaded from the hand-forged rustic copper spigots into ancient stone troughs and basins evoking the sounds and images one finds in the picturesque Provincial villages that adorn the glorious landscape in this alluring corner of the world. So breathtaking were these fountains, Ms LeBlanc proclaimed the name of her new venture, FRENCH FOUNTAINS/ A Gallery of Ancient Garden Elements. Since the opening of her magical garden of fountains in 2003 along the historic New Orleans streetcar route, designers and architects from all over America have flocked to her gates to purchase these fountains for their discerning clients.
In 2007, she launched The French Casting Company in her warehouse workshop two blocks from her gallery along the road that hugs the Mississippi River in Uptown New Orleans. Here, her artists began creating exacting replications of these 17th century French Provincial Town Fountains, using a 19th-century mould-making process that captured ever weathered detail of the stone, making these replications appear hundreds of years old. Experimenting with acid washes, she and her artist developed hues of authentic period finishes that adhered to the stone naturally. Each French fountain is cast in limestone blocks that weight 200 to 400 pounds apiece which when assembled recreate the same method of installation used for the 17th-century originals. French Fountain’s “Signature Collection of Fountains”, captures the authenticity of the antique originals one finds flowing in the quaint town centre markets throughout the south of France.
For over 15 years, our clients from New York to California purchase our stone castings of these 17th-century French fountains for not only its’ authentic recreation but for its’ exceptional price point. Each fountain is carefully hand-cast from the antique fountain blocks that reflect the imperfections found in time-weathered ancient stone.
Staff
We employ several local artists to help us realize any project, from large commercial installations to planters for a small patio. Our staff hand patinates each of our creations to give them the gravitas of a centuries old piece. We can create pieces in number of mediums including cast stone, wood and metal.
In addition to new creations, we are experts at procuring just the right piece for your garden, from our sources all over the country, as well as internationally. We will help you bring your outdoor space to life.
We offer free design consultation. Contact us for help with your fountain, trellis, armillary, sundial, pergola, gazebo, or anything else you’d like for your outdoor decor.
Facilities
Located right in the heart of historic New Orleans, our company is steeped in the culture and ambiance of the city. Our fountains and products are featured in hundreds of historic local gardens and courtyards.
We create our exacting replicas in house directly from antique originals. Our uptown New Orleans fabrication shop also allows us to create custom pieces as needed, be it in cast stone, wood, or metal. We ship our products throughout the continental US.
From our office on St. Charles Avenue we can create custom design proposals to fit any need.
Please contact us with your project today for a free quote.