12 - Pair of Solomonic columns; Italy, second half of the 17th century.

Pair of Solomonic columns; Italy, second half of the 17th century. Carved and polychrome walnut wood. Measurements: 107 x 17 x 17 cm (x2). Pair of Solomonic columns made of carved and polychromed walnut wood. They feature helical shafts, characterized by an upward spiral movement, decorated with carved plant motifs. These elements are highlighted by gilded polychromy against a dark background, creating striking visual hallmarks. Solomonic columns became widely popular during the 17th century, especially within the context of Baroque art. Their development was closely linked to the Baldachin of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, who helped popularize this type of architectural support.Their name derives from the tradition linking them to the columns of Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem. According to this interpretation, their helical shape replicated the columns of the ancient temple, a style also associated with columns preserved in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.During the Baroque period, this model was incorporated into religious architecture as well as furniture and the decorative arts, becoming an ornamental element of great expressive power.