Venus and Cupid candlestick (one of a pair) 1760 - 1770

This porcelain candlestick, featuring Venus and Cupid, was crafted at the Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory in the mid-18th century. It embodies the Rococo aesthetic then in vogue. Reflect on the societal roles these mythological figures played during that era. Venus, the goddess of love, and Cupid, her mischievous son, are entwined in a scene of tender intimacy framed by a profusion of flowers. Notice how this tableau is not merely decorative. It serves as a commentary on beauty, desire, and the feminine ideal as constructed within the context of 18th-century European culture. The porcelain itself speaks to the era's obsession with luxury and the exotic. The soft, sensual curves of the figures and the delicate floral details, all rendered in painstaking detail, evoke the period's aristocratic tastes. Yet, there's also a performative aspect to this piece. Positioned as a functional object, it brings the mythological into the everyday. It reminds us that even in our most mundane moments, the narratives of love and beauty continue to shape our experiences.