Hand-carved in Spain, circa 1850, this pair of walnut panels features portraits in profile of an armor-clad man and woman. Both panels have been painted light gray with cream accents, while the verso side is lined with cream-colored paper embellished with brown flowering garlands, medallions, and bouquets.

Due to the low-relief carvings on the front, the panels are quite thin (1 ½ inches). One panel depicts a man with a low-rising visored morion atop his head and a fluted cuirass. The woman on the other panel is also wearing a helmet and a gorget, which is armor worn around the neck. The portraits are encircled by a raised ring with thin molding on the outside edge. Four corbels around the medallion add additional décor, each adorned with a curled leaf margent and a chamfered molding. Most likely these panels were inset pieces of a large piece of furniture, such as a buffet or cabinet. Our carved and painted walnut portrait panels are extremely lightweight, allowing them to be hung easily as a decorative accessory in just about any room of the house.

CONDITION: Good antique condition with very light age separations, some buildup, and minor paint rubs. Acceptable losses, specifically to edges and to the paper lining the back. Please see photos for details.