Cupid As Minstrel with Lute

This poetic Meissen porcelain figure presents Amor, the god of love, in a romantic, courtly role: as a minnesinger with a lute. In a delicate pose, he holds the traditional instrument in his hands-ready to turn his feelings into music. The depiction merges ancient mythology with the world of medieval courtly love, where affection was idealized, revered-and often unfulfilled-through song and poetry.

In this interpretation, Amor appears not as the playful child-god with bow and arrow, but as a sensitive troubadour seeking to win love through melody and verse. The scene becomes a tender allegory for romantic courtship-artful, full of longing, and rich in devotion.

The design comes from Heinrich Schwabe, one of the leading modelers at the Meissen porcelain manufactory toward the end of the 19th century. Schwabe was renowned for his ability to transform classical themes into surprising, narratively rich compositions. With "Amor as Minnesinger," he creates a subtle metaphor for the power of music and language in love-entirely in the spirit of Romanticism.

Since the 18th century, putti, or childlike representations of Amor, have been among the most beloved motifs in Meissen porcelain art. Crafted from the finest Meissen porcelain and meticulously hand-painted, this figure impresses with its richness of detail-from the finely sculpted curls to the carefully modeled lute. At the Meissen manufactory, such complex figures are assembled by experienced Bossierer from numerous individual parts and refined using specialized tools. The result is a miniature sculpture that combines technical mastery with narrative elegance-reimagining Amor as a singer of hearts.