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 and generally mythological in origin. Cupid is a classic example of a putto.
Fauns are mythological creatures of half human and half goat or ram. They are usually mischievous and often quite sexual in nature. Sometimes they have horns and pointed ears but not always. Pan is an example of a faun.

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 cherub basket

George Jones majolica cherub on a dolphin 

Minton majolica cherub centerpiece 

Holdcroft majolica cherub in a boat teapot

Minton putti vase

Minton. majolica shell carriers

Minton majolica putto with shell vase

Minton majolica putti

Copeland majolica wine ewer

Brownfield majolica putto

Holdcroft majolica putto with cornucopia 

Brownfield majolica pedestal with putto

George Jones majolica putti centerpiece 

Lonitz majolica putto center

Sergent majolica putto center

Minton majolica cherub basket

George Jones putti centerpiece 

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 below from Wedgwood (top) and Minton (bottom):

Wedgwood majolica compote

Wedgwood majolica  faun wine ewer

Minton majolica faun water ewer

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, and putti seem to appeal to everyone!