Furniture Hardware 1820 - 1830

This small, gilt-bronze relief, "Furniture Hardware", was created between 1820 and 1830 by American artist Henry Kellam Hancock. The artwork depicts a winged cherub, or putto, playing a lyre while standing amidst stylized foliage. This intricate piece, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a testament to Hancock's skill in metalwork and his interest in classical themes. The cherub's playful expression and the delicate detail of the lyre and foliage highlight the aesthetic sensibilities of the early 19th century.