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Vintage Lawn Sprinklers: The Best Way to Cool Down This Summer?

Wyatt Barrett
Wyatt Barrett

Throughout this summer of record heat, we’ve had to get creative about how to keep cool. Running through the garden sprinkler is one of our favorite pastimes and brings back the best childhood memories. These days, the garden sprinkler has moved from the tool shed to the collectors cabinet. Like many other products of late 19th- and early 20th-century industrial design, the sprinkler is now appreciated as a piece of sculptural and cultural beauty.

Below we present you with our favorite vintage lawn sprinklers. Which one is your favorite?

Cast-Iron Monkey Lawn Sprinkler

Extremely rare monkey sprinkler depicting monkey standing upright, dressed in jacket with vest and pants. Sold for $7,500
Extremely rare sprinkler depicting monkey standing upright, dressed in jacket with vest and pants. Sold for $7,500. Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers and Dan Morphy Auctions

Weller Coppertone “Happy Ducks” Sprinkler

Weller Gardenware “Happy Ducks” lawn sprinkler depicting a pair of lazily smiling yellow ducks on a Coppertone mound. Sold for $5,500
Weller Gardenware “Happy Ducks” lawn sprinkler depicting a pair of lazily smiling yellow ducks on a Coppertone mound. Sold for $5,500. Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers and Humler & Nolan

 

Mermaid Lawn Sprinkler

Cast iron double sided figural mermaid sprinkler in art deco style. Sold for $4,750
Cast-iron double-sided figural mermaid sprinkler in Art Deco style. Sold for $4,750. Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers and Bertoia Auctions

B&H Mallard Lawn Sprinkler

Bradley & Hubbard cast iron figural sprinkler depicts realistic mallard duck in standing position on half shell. Sold for $4,000
Bradley & Hubbard cast-iron figural sprinkler depicts realistic mallard duck in standing position on half shell. Sold for $4,000. Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers and Bertoia Auctions

Full-Bodied Elephant Sprinkler

Art Deco period cast iron full bodied elephant form lawn sprinkler in old pink & white & rust surface. Sold for $1,800
Art Deco period cast-iron full-bodied elephant-form lawn sprinkler in old pink & white & rust surface. Sold for $1,800. Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers and Stanton Auctions

Frog on Ball Sprinkler

Cast iron frog on ball with zig zag pattern. Sold for $1,300
Cast-iron frog on ball with zigzag pattern. Sold for $1,300. Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers and Dan Morphy Auctions

Turtle Lawn Sprinkler

Cast iron turtle lawn sprinkler depicted in red and yellow colors. Sold for $550
Cast-iron turtle lawn sprinkler finished in red and yellow colors. Sold for $550. Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers and Bertoia Auctions

Western Cowboy Sprinkler

Western cowboy sprinkler made of cast aluminum and glass. Sold for $600
Western cowboy sprinkler made of cast aluminum and glass. Sold for $600. Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers and Danny’s Auction

Alligator Lawn Sprinkler

Cast iron alligator lawn sprinkler with original paint and brass rotating sprinkler head. Sold for $300
Cast-iron alligator lawn sprinkler with original paint and brass rotating sprinkler head. Sold for $300. Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers and Wiederseim Associates

Looking for more Cast Iron Sprinklers? Set up a saved search on LiveAuctioneers.