Decorative ornament (2) - Germany - Asym Rocaille Appliqué

A pair (2 pieces)
corresponding, asymmetrical Rocaille appliqués.
​Style: Pure Rococo (ca. 1740–1760).
​Form: Unlike the first acanthus leaves, which were more symmetrical, here we see the typical “irregular” Rococo form. The C-scrolls, shell forms (Rocaille), and the flowing, almost liquid-looking lines are characteristic of this era. The two pieces are carved in opposite directions, i.e., they form a true pair that mirrors each other.
​Material & Technique: Hand-carved wood, chalk ground, gilding (most likely gold leaf). On the back you can clearly see the traces of the carving knife and the flat mounting surface. Here too the old metal pins are still visible.
​Use: These pieces were also appliqués. You can easily imagine them as the topmost finish (Supraporte) over a small passage, as ornamentation on the sides of a tabernacle, or as decorative elements at the corners of a large altarpiece.