Cherubs and Putti and Fauns, Oh My!

Minton putti fountain

Cherubs, putti and fauns are all common themes in majolica but they are often difficult to tell apart by the collector.

• Cherubs are defined by the dictionary as angelic beings. They have their origin in the Hebrew Bible. They are basically angel children with wings.
• Putti are secular in origin. They are small children or adults sometimes with and sometimes without wings. They are almost always naked or sparely clothed and often mythological in origin. 
• Fauns are mythological creatures of half human and half goat or ram. They are Roman in origin and usually mischievous and often quite sexual in nature. Sometimes they have horns and pointed ears but not always. Sometimes they are portrayed as children and sometimes as adults. In this group I've also included Satyrs who are Greek in origin and, like fauns, also half human and half goat but more sexual in nature. Satyrs are almost always portrayed as adult males. They are associated with vice. Selenus is an example of a satyr.

All three are found in classic Victorian majolica with the cherubs and the putti fairly interchangeable. The only way to tell the difference between the two is the presence or absence of wings and not always then. Where all cherubs have wings, not all putti have wings. The figures in the Minton piece above are putti because they don't have wings. The figure in the Minton sweetmeat below is either a cherub or a putto, but most likely a cherub because of its ride on the classically modeled dolphin. So you see context is usually important as well.

Minton cherub sweetmeat

Other examples of putti and cherubs in majolica:

Minton majolica cherub center

George Jones majolica jardiniere with cherubs

George Jones majolica cherub centerpiece

Brownfield cherub majolica vase

Minton majolica cherub basket

George Jones majolica cherub on a dolphin 

Minton majolica cherub centerpiece 

Minton majolica cherubs basket

Holdcroft majolica cherub in a boat teapot

Wedgwood majolica  cherub ring holder

Wedgwood majolica Boucher putti vase

Minton. majolica shell carriers

Minton majolica putto with shell vase

Minton majolica putti

Minton majolica putto in the form of Hephaestus

Minton majolica cherub

Copeland majolica wine ewer

Brownfield majolica putto

Holdcroft majolica putto with cornucopia 

Brownfield majolica pedestal with putto

George Jones majolica putti centerpiece 

Copeland majolica centre

Lonitz majolica putto center

Sergent majolica putto center

Minton majolica cherubs figure

George Jones putti centerpiece 

Holdcroft majolica putti center

The figures in the George Jones pieces below are fauns. This is easily discerned by the hooves.

George Jones faun with shell

George Jones majolica faun center

Other examples of fauns and satyrs below:

Wedgwood majolica compote

Sarreguemines majolica faun vase

Wedgwood majolica faun wine ewer

Wedgwood majolica Satyr dessert stand

Minton majolica faun water ewer

Image of the above vase from the Minton pattern books

Minton majolica Selenus jug

Minton majolica mythological loving cup

It's funny how majolica pieces with people as subjects are not very popular with collectors, but the whimsy of cherubs, fauns, satyrs, and putti seem to appeal to everyone!