ANTIQUE 17th C. SOLOMONIC PAIR of BAROQUE 10' COLUMNS TOPPED BY MUSICAL ANGELS ,

Description

Pair of antique Solomonic columns crowned by Corinthian capitals on which musical Puttis, or Angels are perched.
This pair of columns, have those unique visable signs of age (wormholes, see pics ) despite having been re gold leafed (re-gilt) in the early 2000s by Nguyen Studios in Paris with the gold leaf on the inner surface slightly burnished in a matte finish and the vines which wrap themselves around the columns burnished into a shiny gold . When restoring the gold leaf on important pieces we prefer not to burnish too darkly, as one can always darken the leaf but never lighten darkly burnished 22K gold leaf (which goes all the way around the columns). Look closely as sometimes the vines touch the columns and sometimes are separated from them by up to an inch of air. When we took possession of them in Paris in the latter part of the 20th century, these columns were black from tarnish on the remaining gold and filthy with grime and dirt. We spared not at having them completely restored. These two extremely tall columns of the Grande Siecle are topped by musical Putti, one of which is a violinist and the other putti sculpture is playing a 17th century instrument which resembles a guitar. Each column is made up of 4 pieces , which attach by 10" metal bars , there is a small base , the column , the capital and then the puttis / angels ( see last picture to understand the metal connectors ) . It is difficult to see but , do to the age of the columns , they do not stand perfectly straight as there is some slight warping , they were hand sculpted nearly 300 years ago , they are of course not exactly the same as they are hand carved . They are magnificent examples of the Solomonic column which was revived as a feature of Baroque architecture in the 1600s The twisted S-curve shaft gives energy and dynamism to the traditional column form which fits the qualities that are characteristically Baroque.
They were purchased for us in Italy by a respectable Parisian antiquaire /broker ( from whom we purchased them Mme. Catherine Aragoni , on the rue de Beaune in the 7th arrondissement. )
SHIPPING : WE HAVE KEPT THE CRATE THAT WAS MADE TO MEASURE FOR THE VOYAGE FROM FRANCE . THE ENTIRE COLUMNS FIT IN THE VERY LARGE CRATE. THERE WILL BE 2 ADDITIONAL BOXES CONTAINING THE 2 CHERUB, PUTTI, ANGELS. THEY CAN BE SHIPPED BY YOUSHIP. IF YOU DONT HAVE A SHIPPING COMPANY .