Pair of Candelabra in the form of kneeling angels
E. Lowengard, London; from whom purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan in 1906 (as Benedetto da Maiano).
Inscribed on base, "CANDELABRUM AUREM IN MANU SUA".
Kneeling angels holding a candlestick, one in the proper right hand (AZ026.1A (right wing), AZ026.1B (left wing), AZ026.1C (angel)), the other in the proper left hand (AZ026.2A (right wing), AZ026.2B (left wing), AZ026.2C (angel)). The wings are detachable and are attached to the angels through iron hinges. The angels kneel on plygonal bases.
The style of these carved and painted wood figures with detachable wings inserted into their backs shows the influence of the early Renaissance sculptors from Florence, Benedetto da Maiano, and Andrea della Robbia. Such angels originally would have decorated an altar or a tomb. While these two were believed to be by Benedetto when acquired by Morgan, they're not the work of an early renaissance master. In fact, they're not even by the same carver and likely were executed at different times, both centuries later than the early Renaissance examples they emulate.