Our 18th century Italian wooden cherubs are mounted on new iron bases. The cherubs were once gilded. Now, stripped of the gild and bole to reveal the natural wood and creamy white gesso. They would make a wonderful display. These angelic figures are often referred to as putti figures. The putto, plural putti, is a nude, chubby child figure, often with wings, frequently appearing in both mythological and religious paintings and sculpture, especially of the Renaissance and Baroque periods. The word putto comes from Latin. Often times putti figures, Italian in origin, are called cherubs. However, historically, cherubs and putti had different roles. Cherubs are angels and represent sacred love, holding the highest angelic order in Heaven, and thus closest to God. While putti figures arise from Greco-Roman classical mythos (i.e. non-Christian) and represent secular, non-religious love, as between two people. Putti are associated with Cupid as well as with Erato, the muse of lyric and love poetry. In either case, a putto’s presence symbolizes love, whether divine or of a more earthly nature. Read our blog, the Maison & Co. Notebook, to read more about the history of cherubs. Click this link: http://www.maisonandco.com/blog/maison-cos-valentines-cherubs Cupid is known for his mischievous desire to shoot his arrows into the hearts of unsuspecting victims, resulting in the victim falling madly in love with the first person he saw. At Maison & Co. we adore our pair of mischievous Cupids. We know you will fall in love with their charming faces and beautiful patina.