Angels carrying the cross, lance, sponge, nails, crown of thorns, column, or other Arma Christi as attendants to Passion and Last Judgment imagery.
Angels with Instruments of the Passion carry or present the Arma Christi: the cross, lance, sponge, nails, crown of thorns, column, ladder, hammer, pincers, and related objects. They appear in devotional works, tombs, altars, reliquaries, and Last Judgment programs.
Etymology
Instrument from Latin instrumentum; Passion from Latin passio, “suffering.”
Sculptor Notes
These figures are especially useful for filling an architectural ensemble because each instrument generates a different axis and pose. The danger is decorative clutter. Give each angel one clear action and let the instruments establish the rhythm of the group.
References
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/191942