Cupid at the Altar of Love 1760 - 1770

This porcelain scent bottle, "Cupid at the Altar of Love," was made around 1765 by the Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory in England. During this period, porcelain, like this piece, was highly prized as a symbol of luxury and refined taste and we can see this in the delicate floral design and the use of gold. The figure of Cupid at an altar suggests the rituals of love. The values associated with love, marriage, and family were changing amid the rise of the middle class. This piece may reflect evolving social norms around love, courtship, and domestic life at the time. As historians, we can look at factors such as the history of the Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory, its patrons, and the broader cultural trends of 18th-century England to better understand this artwork and its role in society.