Pair of wooden altar vases, 17th/18th century

Pair of decorative altar vases in turned, carved, and gilded wood. Baluster shape with vertical fluting. Northern Italy, 17th/18th century. 35 cm (13.78 in) h x 19 cm (7.48 in) d.

Fluting (baccellatura) is a decorative motif used across multiple periods: Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, and Neoclassical. Applied to turned wooden forms, it is especially characteristic of Baroque and Rococo craftsmanship.