GILDED WOODEN CHERUB SHELF SUPPORT
gilded wood, “Spanish brocade” marble top
This refined piece made from intricately carved and fully gilded wood is a typical decorative object from the late Baroque or Rococo period. Rising from a moulded base with a multilinear profile and resting on four curved feet adorned with leafy scrollwork, the figure of a winged putto is sculpted in full relief. The figure, kneeling on a rocky formation, serves as the central support for the entire structure.
The putto, with a soft yet anatomically balanced traits, is draped at the hips with a cloth that leaves the torso fully exposed. The gesture of the right hand, holding a small torch, is complemented by the left hand resting on the putto’s chest, creating a posture of contemplation and gentle pathos. The face, gazing downward, features soft, almost melancholic traits, highlighted by flowing hair rendered in loose, well-defined locks.
The wings, open and slightly bent backward, are stylized yet elegant, with a feathered texture that contributes to the overall impression of lightness. Above the putto’s head is the terminal element of the piece: a square marble shelf in Spanish brocatelle marble, supported by a wooden carved frieze of leafy motifs and a moulded edge, completing the piece both functionally and aesthetically.
The decorative language recalls the sculptural production from late 17th- and early 18th-centuries Tuscany, characterized by a strong ornamental feature, a taste for controlled dynamism, and a lavish use of gilding. While serving both an architectural and decorative function, the putto is treated with such sculptural care that this object becomes a fine piece of devotional or ornamental sculpture of excellent quality.
Rome, 18th century
cm. 108x70x46
