Pair of Antique French Porcelain Cherub Sculptures

A large-scale white bisque porcelain putto or cherub statue standing on an ornate bombe plinth by 19th century French ceramicist Gille Jeune. Dating from the 1860s, this statue is over 150 years old. It depicts an infant – known as a cherub or putto – wearing a head band with a swathe of fabric draped over his arm and thigh. He sits upon a tree stump or rock with his arms raised and castanets in his hands. Thanks to its scale and provenance, it is a breath-taking statue for an interior or gallery, both the putto and the plinth inscribed with the maker’s mark ‘Gille Jne, Fabt. Paris’. Gille Jeune, Paris Parisian ceramist Jean-Baptiste Gille (1798-1868) was one of the leading manufacturers of French bisque porcelain - also known as biscuit porcelain - of the 19th century. In 1836, he established his own porcelain factory in Paris under the name ‘Gille Jeune’. His work was displayed in many prestigious exhibitions including London’s 1851 Great Exhibition where he was awarded a prize medal, the 1862 exhibition in London and the Paris exhibition in 1867. Four of his cherub works in the same style and scale reside at Hughenden House in Buckinghamshire as part of the National Trust’s collection. These include two of Gille’s depictions of the four seasons and a putto playing a flute as well as a putto with castanets like this one dating from 1855-1864. For this reason, we can say with some certainty that this antique cherub statue...

A striking Italian alabaster sculpture of the Abduction of the Sabine Women, also known as Giambologna, after the antique by Jean de Boulogne. This Grand Tour style piece has a beau...

Handmade porcelain sculpture depicting two winged angels, a pair of fine putti. Height 35 cm.

19th century white marble group of two cherubs by A. Duché French, late 19th century Measures: Height 71cm, width 42cm, depth 26cm This exquisite white marble group is modelled ...