A Pair of Carved and Gilded Wooden Eagles from the mid-1800s, this pair of carved and gilded wooden birds of prey represents a fascinating example of 19th-century Italian craftsmanship. The carved sculptures, crafted with great attention to detail, display finely carved plumage and gilding that, while showing minimal signs of age, remains in good condition. The use of Sienese yellow earth for the upper finish instead of gilding suggests that the two gilded figures were decorative terminal elements of a piece of furniture. The eagles' pose with outstretched wings suggests a sense of movement and vitality, evoking their majestic nature and the symbolism of freedom and strength in this pair of animalistic figures. The eagles' talons are firmly anchored to an ebonized base and rest on a small balustrade. On the back of the two animal figures, two artificial supports facilitated their anchoring. To make them stable, they were attached to a 12 cm high wooden cube, with a base measuring 12 x 12 cm. The measurements given include the base. from a private collection, these works also tell a story of mid-19th-century Italian tradition and craftsmanship.