Franz Xaver Bergmann

Odalisque

Vienna Bronze Sculpture

Ca. 1900 

This wonderful life-like sculpture depicts a half-naked odalisque reclining in a lazy pose on silk pillows on an ottoman, covered with a lion's skin. With bare breasts, only a small light scarf covers the lower part of her body. The odalisque has rich jewelry on - large earrings and necklace, bracelets on her arms and legs. There are graceful mules on her feet. In front of the odalisque, on an exquisite Persian rug, stands a low table with a goblet of wine on it.

This little masterpiece is created in polychrome cold-painted bronze, and rendered in the best traditions of the world-famous Viennese foundry of Franz Xavier Bergmann. The quality of the casting is superb, as well as the cold-painted surfaces. The sculpture retains original colors and patina. 

Dimensions:

Height: 2.75 inches (6.9cm)       

Length: 6.5 inches (16.25cm)      

Width: 4 inches (10cm)       

Franz Xaver Bergmann (1861–1936) was the owner of a Viennese foundry who produced numerous patinated and cold-painted bronze oriental, erotic and animal figures, the latter often humanized or whimsical, humorous objects d'art. Cold painted bronze refers to pieces cast in Vienna and then decorated in several layers with so-called dust paint; the expertise for the mix of this kind of paint has been lost. The color was not fired hence "cold painted". Mainly women working at home, a typical cottage industry, carried out the painting. Noted for his detailed and colorful work, Bergmann was signing his creations with either a "B" in an urn-shaped cartouche, or "Nam Greb" - for "Bergman" in reverse. These marks used to disguise his identity on the erotic works. Often, the sculptures are also marked with model number and stamped “GESHUTZED” (German for “PROTECTED”).

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