While researching life in the 19th century, I became intrigued by the popular depictions of a chubby male child, usually naked and sometimes winged. Originally known in the Renaissance and Baroque periods, the putto came to represent the cupid, and it can be found in both religious and secular art from the 1420s to the turn of the 16th century.
Many artists have depicted them, and among the best-known examples are from the painter Raphael and the sculptor Donatello.
These winged characters experienced a revival in the 19th century and appeared in architecture, artwork, illustrations, folk paintings, and other handcrafted decor and dishware. The chubby little-winged angels who carried a bow and arrow came to be known as the symbol of piercing the heart of mortals with love and desire.
They also appeared on cards, calendars, and Advertisements. Some of my favorites are the advertisements for Borax.
The term "borax" refers to a number of boron compounds. Boron is a naturally occurring mineral typically used as a multi-purpose detergent that easily dissolves in water. It was first found in dry lakebeds in Tibet. The Egyptians used it in mummification. In the 13th Century, Marco Polo reportedly brought some back from his Far East travels. In the late 1800s, boron compounds were a household staple, used in medicines, food additives, and household cleaners.
In 1881, large quantities of borax were discovered in Death Valley, California, which allowed it to be manufactured on a large scale.
https://www.desertusa.com/desert-california/borax.html
The 20 Mule Team was created in 1883 to transport the borax out of Death Valley to the nearest train spur in Mojave, California. The 165-mile journey required two teams of 18 mules, each led by two horses, and took ten days.
20 Mule Team Borax ad circa 1907. Get your cherub-like children clean with #Boraxo bath powder!
If cleanliness is next to godliness, cherubs in the Victorian era were symbolic of romantic love. For some, they represented the cherubim watching over and interceding for mankind.
The combination of divinity, myth, and romanticism made cherubs accessible decorations even when, in society, the glimpse of an ankle was considered erotic.
In my recent release, Hiram's Brides—Book 15: Double Trouble, Florence, or Flossie has mastered the skill of flashing a bit of ankle. She finds herself in a predicament when she is the eyewitness to a crime. Taking her colorful petticoats with her, she heads further west. Not one to ever miss an opportunity, she befriends a naive mail-order bride along the way.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CRHVJCVW
Two brides, a teacher, and an imposter. If anyone can sort out the truth, shouldn't a former bounty hunter and now experienced sheriff be the man for the job? His true bride is quickly losing confidence. "Typical man, so easily bamboozled by a dimpled smile, flash of an ankle, and twisting skirt. It will serve him right if he marries the wrong woman."
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Fans of historical romance set in the late 19th -century will enjoy stories combining, History, Humor, and Romance with an emphasis on Faith, Friends, and Good Clean Fun.
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