Five times awarded 5 Gold Stars at RHS Chelsea
“You can't stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.”
A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh
A little Wonderland in Virginia
One of our most exciting recent adventures took us to Abernethy & Spencer, a stunning nursery and gardens in Virginia, USA.
The story began a few years ago, when the owners visited our annual display at Chelsea Flower Show. They were captivated by the whimsical charm of our Alice in Wonderland pieces and the storytelling magic behind them.
So, when they began developing their glasshouse at the plant nurseries, they decided to bring that same sense of wonder into their own space. They commissioned a collection that combines some of our Alice in Wonderland favourites – complete with the playful Tea Party theme – alongside iconic Beatrix Potter characters like Peter Rabbit and Mr. Jeremy Fisher, plus a selection of bronze miniatures.
The collection is set to grow even further, with a Cheshire Cat, White Rabbit, and conceivably more besides! It’s a truly magical location – the perfect home for sculptures that feel as though they’ve stepped straight out of a much-loved tale from children’s literature.
The journey across the Atlantic
When it came to shipping, each sculpture was given its final wax and polish at our workshop before being transported to Poole, UK, where our trusted freight partners prepared them for their journey. Every piece was meticulously cushioned, packed and crated – bronze may be strong, but the details deserve the utmost care.
The journey to the nurseries took a couple of weeks by air freight, and as soon as the bronzes arrived safely, we flew out to oversee the installation in person.
Bringing the Tea Party to life
Unboxing the sculptures felt like unwrapping a gift – even for us, who already knew every inch of every piece. The Tea Party urn, however, was another challenge altogether. Heavy and monumental, it required seven pairs of strong hands to lift into place. The staff at Abernethy & Spencer were brilliant, helping with everything from plumbing to planting.
Even though the glasshouse is still under development, the sculptures already feel perfectly at home – a little pocket of storybook wonder that will only grow as the space flourishes.
We can’t wait to see it fully transformed, with the new characters – the Cheshire Cat grinning from on high, the White Rabbit mid-dash, and the Mad Hatter with an appropriate sense of mischief – completing the scene.
Art that travels
Every sculpture we create leaves our workshop to start a new life somewhere in the world. Whether it’s a grand centrepiece in Singapore, a tiny bronze Mad March Hare tucked between lavender plants in a British garden, or a curious Jeremy Fisher perched on a lily pad in Virginia, each one carries a story with it.
We’re delighted that these bronze sculptures have been welcomed into so many corners of the world. It’s proof that storytelling, craft, and a love for character can cross any border.
If you’d like to bring a little bit of that magic to your own space – wherever you are – we’d love to hear from you.
Robert James Workshop sculptures located around the world
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