Featured Small Bronze Statute a Little Risque

Hi Friends,

Need help dating the small bronze
piece. I am no expert but think it might be 1920s when this type of stuff was popular . The top piece separates to reveal the backside of a nude woman. Any idea on age of piece and what you would call it? Appreciate you alls expertise and insights. Thanks all!

Chiquita

 

that's odd..

 

What is the underside of the lid like? The putto looks like he was holding something, now missing.

 

I thought these hidden female nudes were popular in the late 19th century.

 

I dont know. It belongs to my brother in law who lives in Panama. I found something similar just a bit ago with a hidden hidden erotic bronze sculpture circa 1900-1930s

 

Maybe he was holding an arrow???

 

He's loosely in the posture of someone drawing a bow, but I see no other indications he is intended to be Cupid. Is his head wreathed in something?

If you want to tease your brother a bit, you might point out that the lady may be more than she appears:

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/259522

 

Thank you. Very interesting

 

Now, now - it's clear from his posture that Cupid has just scratched himself with his doped arrow, dropped the arrow and bow and squealed, "ouch!" Psyche, asleep below, never knew how close she'd come to falling in Love with a some hideous being!



@Chiquita - I cast my vote for Cupid and Psyche - his bow and arrow now being fugitive. There are any number of Postclassical depictions of Cupid from the Asinus Aureus which don't conform to the way Cupid is "seen" in art history. YMMV.
.

 

Wow. Very interesting in deed. So helpful. Thank you

 

I think Cupid & Psyche and he may have had a bow and arrow, but you don't even see a mark where his wings would have been

 

I think it's a pipe holder and that girl arching her bottom up to receive.....
well, she don't look like an antique depiction of a graceful nude...IMO

 

Not all traditional depictions show Cupid winged. E.g. - from the Vic and Al:


http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O99045/cupid-and-psyche-figure-group-sevres-porcelain-factory/


Vide the remarks:

"Copied from an original marble group in the Museo Capitolino, Rome, Roman work of the 2nd C AD, after an earlier lost Greek original, discovered in 1749; the group was in Paris from 1797 to 1816. See H. Stuart Jones, Catalogue of Ancient Sculpture in Municipal Collection of Rome -- Museo Capitolino, 1912, pl. 12, p. 185, no. 3. The antique original has no wings."
.

 

http://www.museicapitolini.org/en/p.../sala_del_gladiatore/statua_di_amore_e_psiche

It's obviously inspired by, but not a copy. Cupid as we think of him is behind the couple, his bow on the ground at his feet.