Trent Tile Putto on a Ribbon by Isaac Broome

This vintage tile was saved from an old fireplace surround of putti flying through the air on ribbons amongst the clouds. Designed by Isaac Broome at the Trent Tile Company of Trenton New Jersey in the 1800's this chubby baby grips a ribbon tightly as he flies through the air. The tile measures 6" square and 1/2" thick and is molded in relief giving the image movement and dimension. It is covered in a deep mauve translucent majolica glaze and marked on the back and is in excellent condition with minimal flaws and some traces of mortar and felt on the back. It has a rub to the high point of the ribbon near the bottom. As seen in the last photo this tile will connect with another putto tile offered separately to form a panel. Buy both to save on shipping.

Sometimes winged, but always chubby, depictions of putti have decorated paintings, objects and architecture since antiquity. During the Renaissance, putti personified human spirit and emotion, while later in the Baroque period these naked male babies came to represent the omnipresence of God and were often used in context with angels. By the 18th and 19th centuries, the popularisation of romantic images turned putti into a popular emblem of love. However, putti are neither cupids nor angels; they are secular figures, which allows them to get into quite a bit of mischief. Here we take a look at the seemingly incongruous and inappropriate activities for their age group – these putti can be found getting drunk, brawling and engaging in erotic behavior. —Alessandra Merrill