A putto is a chubby infant figure, typically winged, originating in classical art and adopted heavily during the Renaissance and later revival periods. They symbolise love, mischief, or seasonal harvest. In sculpture, they appear alone or in groups, playing instruments, holding wine, or bearing floral garlands.

How do I date a bronze putto?

Dating relies on the alloy, the quality of the chasing, the style of the base, and foundry marks. Nineteenth-century pieces often show precise hand-tooling on the bronze surface after casting. Earlier eighteenth-century works display different patination characteristics and mounting techniques compared to later mass-produced Victorian or Edwardian castings.

Where were these sculptures placed?

Putto figures served diverse decorative functions across European interiors and gardens. Smaller bronzes sat on desks, bookshelves, or functioned as bookends, while ormolu mounts decorated clocks and furniture. Larger wooden carvings formed architectural pediments or torchiere bases, and stone versions populated nineteenth-century gardens.

What is a Grand Tour bronze?

A Grand Tour bronze is a small-scale sculpture purchased by travellers touring Italy and France during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. These pieces reproduced famous classical statues or ancient artefacts found in museums and excavations. They allowed collectors to bring classical antiquity and mythology back to their domestic interiors.