Pair of Cornucopia Sculptures, 1800s, Gold Leaf and Pinus Cembra

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A pair of 17th-century Cornucopia sculptures depicting two polychrome angels in lacquered and gilded wood from a private villa in … Read more A pair of 17th-century Cornucopia sculptures depicting two polychrome angels in lacquered and gilded wood from a private villa in Siena in Central Italy. They stand upright on a square plinth-shaped base, with some missing parts and wear consistent with a late 17th-century date.

Missing one arm and wings, these antique angels have retained their original characteristic: a slightly naive style highlighted by the golden curls of their hair and the serene expressions on their faces, with their chubby, 17th-century-style cheeks and their timeless, bored, out-of-place gaze.

The missing wings are presumed to have been hung from the back rather than fixed in place, as the backs of the figures show no signs of attachment, thorn holes, or nails.

The base bears the symbol of the brotherhood, a sort of symbol of Golgotha, drawn in white tempera. In the past, the statues were mounted as lamps. See less