| Decorative garden wall plaques take their | | | | sometimes as stepping stones. Many of the |
| inspiration from ancient Greek are. Wall | | | | companies that sell the plaques advertise |
| plaques were usually made of marble and were | | | | them as both. |
| usually brightly colored with classic | | | | |
| designs. | | | | Many of them still follow classic design |
| | | | motifs with lots of animals, nature scenes, |
| The ancient Greeks had an abundance of marble | | | | and also scenes from mythology. More and |
| and were fond of using it in making | | | | more, however, less classical themes are |
| decorative wall hangings. These were usually | | | | being employed in both the wall hangings and |
| carved with intricate scenes of Gods or | | | | the stepping stones. School emblems have |
| nature. Although most of the examples that | | | | become popular as well as cartoon characters. |
| are seen today have long since lost their | | | | When used as indoor wall hangings, the |
| brightly painted colors to age, a few have | | | | designs fit well with most decorative |
| been preserved to show that the Greeks | | | | interior design styles. Cottage style |
| preferred to paint over the stone with very | | | | décor is complimented with decorative |
| bright colors. The decorative garden wall | | | | garden wall plaques because so many designs |
| plaques that are becoming popular today | | | | feature nature. |
| follow this classic Greek idea. | | | | |
| | | | Decorative plaques used as stepping stones |
| Decorative garden wall plaques in the modern | | | | differ from the more common paving stones in |
| era were also often made from marble or other | | | | both the intricacy of their designs, but also |
| expensive stone. For a long time the style | | | | in the quality of the stone used. As was |
| was to not use bright colors. The stone | | | | mentioned, expensive and durable stones such |
| slabs, although intricate in design, would be | | | | as marble are most often used. This makes the |
| generally plain in color. This was to copy | | | | price quite a bit above the more common |
| what was perceived as the Greek classical | | | | variety paving stones used in gardens. When |
| style because most pieces had long since lost | | | | used as a stepping stone rather than a wall |
| their color to the effects of aging. In the | | | | hanging, the plaques are generally used to |
| garden, the wall plaque often was used as an | | | | accent a particular central part of the |
| identifying marker that denoted the garden's | | | | garden rather than create long walkways. When |
| owner. | | | | longer paved walkways are wanted, the common |
| | | | variety paving stones serve best for cost |
| Recent decorative wall plaques have tended to | | | | considerations. However, when you are willing |
| abandon the idea of unpainted stone and | | | | to add some real class and style to your |
| returned to bright colors. Although they are | | | | garden or to the interior décor of your |
| sometimes used indoors as wall hanging, their | | | | home, the decorative plaques certainly |
| use in the garden continues. In the garden, | | | | justifies its higher cost. |
| they are used both as wall hangings or | | | | |