Hi Sarah,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.

The rods extending from the bottoms of these angels suggest to me that they were once used as finials - or tops - of a piece of furniture (a large bookcase or mirror, for example), part of an architectural form (stair railing or fireplace cornice) or in a religious setting (church altar, organ, etc). It's possible there were many more in the set, now down to just these two; while these two angels may be unique to your family, they are, in fact, a fairly common artifact from as far back as the 17th, 18th and 19th Centuries and if one wants to purchase similar examples at auction, there are many - from individual ones to multiples - currently on offer at auction.

Society has - generally speaking - become less focused on religion and because of this, religious artifacts have become to have less value than they once were. A look at recent auction results shows that most individual angels of similar size and age sell for between $100-200. The loss to the "flame" on one angel is a small condition "flaw" that does discount its value a little so whereas a pair of more complete angels would be being between $200-400, your pair would be worth $200-300.

Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:

A pair of Baroque style carved and giltwood angel-form finials
Continental, possibly German, Probably late 19th Century
One turning to the right, the other to the left, in contrapposto, holding aloft a light (one angel lacking the 'flame'), on a stepped hexagonal base with metal rod issuing from below. Unmarked.
Each 8-1/2 inches tall
CONDITION: With minor wear and losses commensurate to age and use. Lacking one flame.
PROVENANCE: Inherited
$200-300 for the pair*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.

Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia