Lawn Jockey
There are many different types of lawn decorations that can be used to add beauty and interest to your lawn. One of the most popular types of lawn decorations that are commonly used is the lawn jockey. The lawn jockey is a small statue of a man that is dressed in jockey style clothing. Today most of the lawn jockey statues that you will see are white but in the past that was not the case.
The lawn jockey often has a hand held up. In the hand of the lawn jockey is sometimes a lantern or a metal ring. A lawn jockey statue may be constructed of a variety of different materials including concrete, aluminum and cast iron.
Due to the fact that in the past, many lawn jockey statues were not white, they have come to be quite a controversial topic. Many consider the statue to be racially insensitive. The designs of the newer lawn jockey statues have helped to ease these tensions somewhat and as a result, the lawn jockey has still remained a very popular lawn ornament.
It is said that the reason that the original lawn jockey statues were African American is for a specific purpose. They were meant to memorialize the legend of the young African American man who served with George Washington when the Americans were struggling to carry out a surprise attack on the British. The young man had been left to tend to the horses rather than cross the Delaware because the general thought him too young to cross the river. According to the legend, the young man froze to death, still clutching the lantern within his hand as he watched over the horses and held a light waiting for the return of the general. Purportedly, General Washington had a statue made to memorialize the young man and installed it at his estate, Mount Vernon. The original lawn jockey statue was known as the Faithful Groomsman. It is said that this original lawn jockey statue was the inspiration for the many statues that we see so frequently today.
Since that time the lawn jockey has continued to be a popular lawn decoration even though many people may not know the true legend behind the small statue that is seen on the lawns of so many homes. Lawn jockey statues can typically be purchased at almost any garden center and home improvement store around the country.