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