Pair of Painted Pilaster Angels, probably Italy, 17th Century

Pair of carved wooden pilaster elements retaining their original painted finish in blue, red, and gold. The lower section is designed as a pilaster, transitioning in the upper area into deeply carved relief figures of angels serving as atlantes. The angels wear garments with richly sculpted drapery, feature shoulder-length curly hair, and display suggested wings in the background. Their heads support red velvet cushions with gilt tassels acting as load-bearing elements. The pilasters were formerly incorporated into a library cabinet and had been heavily overpainted. The original painted surface has since been carefully uncovered.