19th C. Italian Carved Stone Putti Fountain with Dolphin

This charming 19th Century small carved stone Italian fountain features a cherubic putti standing atop a playful dolphin, embodying a sense of whimsical classical elegance.

The putti is skilfully detailed, with ringlet locks of hair, delicate facial features, and a robust, plump form. Clutched in its arms is a large conch shell. The dolphin at the putti’s feet is beautifully carved, with dynamic undulating form and an expressive face. Its mouth, slightly ajar, serves as the spout for water when the fountain is running.

This combination of a putti with a dolphin and shell draws from classical and Renaissance symbolism, often tied to themes of love, the sea, and divine protection. Dolphins were sacred to Aphrodite (Venus), goddess of love, while the shell symbolises fertility and the sea’s bounty, famously linked to Aphrodite’s birth. This motif celebrates innocence, harmony with nature, and the joy of life, inspired by Greco-Roman mythology and Baroque art traditions.

(Plinth not included)