Furniture Hardware 1820 - 1830

This gilded brass furniture hardware was crafted by Henry Kellam Hancock, and it features Psyche and Cupid. This iconography is steeped in classical mythology, representing the soul's journey through love and hardship. The image of Cupid consoling Psyche carries echoes of ancient Roman frescoes, where the winged god of desire is depicted with his beloved. But consider how the gesture of solace shifts when we see it echoed in later Renaissance paintings of the Madonna and Child. Here, the protective embrace becomes a symbol of divine love and maternal care, imbued with the weight of Christian spirituality. The visual language transcends its original context, evolving to reflect the anxieties and aspirations of new cultural landscapes. Such imagery engages us on a visceral level, tapping into our collective memory of love, loss, and the eternal quest for redemption. It is a testament to the enduring power of symbols to resonate across centuries, their meanings transformed, but their emotional core forever intact.