Guard dogs

Marble guardians
Fair of face, beauty and grace
Villainy beware

Gargoyles, familiar creatures perched on the eaves of Gothic architecture, are not the evil demons many believe them to be. They are guardians, mystic guard dogs warding off malevolence and bad spirits. Their stoney countenance all the better to strike fear into the black hearts of marauding bad guys.

These lovelies bedeck the eaves of Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC. Built between 1889-1895, the 135,000 square-foot mansion follows the Chateaûesque style of architecture. The outer façade is protected with ornate gargoyles and grotesques, each one unique and magical.