Oak angel corbels fly in sale

A matching pair of large carved oak angel corbels circa 1450-1480, each holding a polychrome painted heraldic shield, have sold for £20,000 at Chorley’s fine art and antiques sale – four times higher than their original estimate.

The rare 50cm high corbels exhibit characteristics which are typical of 15th Century workmanship including the arrangement of hair in rolls and the carved feathering detail seen here on the wings. The pair share crenelated parapet characteristics with three 15th Century angel corbels in the V&A Museum Collection

Thorough examination of the corbel’s merchant marks and shields by Chorley’s researchers, assisted by Thomas Lloyd and Robert Colley, linked them to the Sotterley family of Suffolk.

Chorley’s director Werner Freundel said: “It is very rare to find pieces of this type; 550 year old English carvings with comparable items in the V&A museum. Our extensive research with Thomas Lloyd and Robert Colley, which linked these to the Sotterley family of Suffolk and shone a light on the niche world of merchant’s marks, helped bring attention to the lot and we are delighted that it achieved its potential.”