Antique Arrow Brooch with Coral Cupid Head

• Coral - Coral used in jewellery. Coral is a material that is commonly used in jewellery making. It is made up of the skeletons of tiny marine animals called coral polyps. There are many species of coral, but only one group, Corallium, is suitable for carving, and thus can be used in jewellery manufacture. These have a deep red or pink orange skeleton and are known as "noble coral" or "precious coral".
• Cupid Motif - The Cupid motif, which features the Roman god of love and desire, Cupid, was a popular decorative element in classical ornamentation. Cupid was often depicted as a winged, naked baby with a bow and arrow, and was often used to symbolize love and desire.
  
  In classical art and architecture, Cupid motifs were often used as decorative elements on furniture, such as on the legs of chairs and tables, as well as on architectural elements such as friezes and pediments. They were also used as decorative elements in frescoes, mosaics, and other forms of art.
  
  During the Renaissance, Cupid motifs were often incorporated into the decoration of palaces, churches and other grand buildings, as they were seen as symbols of love and fertility. Cupid motifs were also commonly used in the decorative arts of the Baroque period, often appearing in the form of putti, which are small winged cherub figures.
  
  In addition to their decorative use, Cupid motifs were also believed to hold symbolic meaning, as they were thought to evoke feelings of love, desire, and fertility.

This item has been included into following indexes:

• brooches, bar brooches - bar brooches, other 775
• brooches, depicting - cupid 18
• brooches, set with - coral 107