Featured Plaster Statue Lady ?

Could anyone help me identify this plaster statue of a Lady standing on a snake with two cupids at her feet, I've shown the bottom of the statue if anyone knows anything about them would be most grateful for any pointers to find out more thank you.

 

That's the Virgin Mary. Good explanation of why we have Virgin Mary stepping on a snake: https://catholicjules.net/2010/09/02/statue-of-mary-stepping-on-a-snake/

 

Hi im familiar with the Virgin but does she have cupids at her feet I grew up with the religious statues my grandmother had in glass cases but looking closer Im not sure it is the Virgin but am always learning thank you.

 

Angels, Brubaker, angels.
She is lovely, Our Lady, Queen of the Angels, or Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles. Very popular in Spain and Hispanic countries.
Do you live in LA?

 

Plus, just google/image "virgin mary with angels" and you'll find tons (and tons) of examples.

 

Thanks for the replies much appreciated unfortunately I don't live in the city of Angels.

 

Having spent a few searching I havent come across an example with the two Cherubs or Cupids at the statues feet , Im thinking its someone else perhaps Gree or something.

 

They're cherubs which are Christian beings. (Cupids belong to classical mythology.) Here's another example. She has seven at her feet. If it has to be two, I'll keep looking.

Debora

 

Yes I have seen those but nothing with two at her feet standing on a snake and her head dress doesnt look the same .Its not a robe around her head its something else and all the Mary ones are the same .Im checking the base to see if I can find similar but havent seen anything , it could have another meaning this statue Im not convinced its religious as such that head dress.

 

And not neccessarily praying just holding her hands maybe.

 

Here you go... Virgin Mary, snake, cherubs, and floral crown. And praying.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/592544...ligious-madonna-statue?show_sold_out_detail=1

Debora

 

As a Catholic and former theologian I am quite used to seeing these Madonna statues with angels, snakes, crescent moons, rose crowns, whatever.
But if you don't feel comfortable with Catholic symbolism, you can call her whatever you like, of course. She is yours, and if you want to call her 'Gree(?) with cupids and with hands that only look as if they are in a position of prayer but are not really', then 'Gree with cupids and hands that only look as if they are in a position of prayer, etc' it is.
But if you ever want to sell her, I can only advise you to call her by her proper name, which I gave in my first post. But again, your choice.

 

Roses are quite common on Madonnas, they generally refer to her title 'Rose of Jesse' or 'Mystic Rose' (not a fortune teller).
Here is a detail of my own 'Madonna of the Roses', a 1970s Anri carving of a classic.
(Alternatively a teenage hippie mother with her precocious baby, the latter playing with his food.)

 

@Brubaker50 I feel your pain! In this modern world where credible research can happen in seconds, it will always seem strange not to be able to pin down every detail. Strange and painful.

Although, damn, @Debora nicely done with that Etsy listing.

When you have any subject that has been mass produced, pinning down the details of an individual piece can get dicey. Yes, a figurine may carry all of the details of a very specific myth out of Lower Slobbovia -- but it may have been made in a factory where the chief design principal was "these lady statues sell better with fat babies on the base."

The trick in any field that is not your own is to find people you trust -- before I posted my bronze girlfriend (https://www.antiquers.com/threads/indian-bronze-statue.29350/#post-388182), I lurked on this forum to see if there was anyone's answers I would trust. When I discovered there was, I posted her.

edit: I deleted a bit that may not be true and sounded snarky when that was not my intention.

 

Trust me, I am a theologian (from Lower Slobbovia).

 

Thanks for all the replies that statue is the same figure , Ive carefully fine wire wooled a piece at the back and on her fingers extremely gently and it has been originally in colour.Feels more heavy than a normal one the underneath of that emulsion paint very smooth .I might be able to remove most of it and get it redone in original colours think it would look great .I noticed a wire in the middle there and the mould marks might help track it down some more.Feel free to tell me not to touch it but it looks like the paint can come off lightly think its worth it to have a go.

 

I don't mind her being the Madonna I grew up with a very Catholic Grandmother who loved her Dpmed Statues as I did they remind me of her love for her Church, thank you for you replies and time most appreciated.

 

Classical Greek and Roman statues were originally polychrome. Some people prefer them as they appear now.

Debora

 

I found another statue same different base but interestingly made out of clay pipe and it might be the colour im seeing under the paint.Its on Ruby lane Im not computer savy to put links or if allowed to do so.Statue looks like its French the head Dress confused me as being brought up Catholic Im so used to seeing Mary having a robe around her head , there are a lot of statues of her in West Belfast some along the road like Shrines.

 

Here in Europe many religious statues made for the pilgrim trade were made from pipe clay, ever since the Middle Ages. They were copies of the venerated statue from the place of pilgrimage.
This is a 15th century Dutch one with the original mold:


The crown is also a feature of many Madonnas, a reference to her being Queen of Heaven, a concept borrowed from ancient Goddess religions. (Like Astarte, Ishtar/Esther, Tanit.)