Price

£950.00

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Early 20th Century cold-painted Austrian bronze entitled "Feeding Turkey" by Franz Bergman

A very fine early 20th Century cold painted Austrian bronze figure of a feeding turkey. This bronze study has excellent naturalistic colour and very fine hand finished detail,  signed with the Bergman 'B' in an amphora vase, stamped Geschutzt and numbered 1060.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Height: 4 cm.

Width: 5 cm.

Length: 10 cm.

Condition: Excellent Original Condition.

Circa: 1910.

Materials: Cold Painted Bronze.

Book Ref: Antique Vienna Bronzes by Joseph Zobel.

SKU: 8755.

ABOUT

Bergman Feeding Turkey

Franz Bergman Sculptures

Bergman bird– Celebrated for his great attention to detail and wonderful vibrant colours, Franz Xavier Bergman (1861-1936) is, arguably, the most famous of the Viennese cold-painted bronze artists, delighting in producing Oriental and animal subjects, including the Bergman cat, rabbits, foxes and horses.

His father, also Franz Bergman (1838–1894), was a professional chaser (embosser) from Gablonz, Austria who came to Vienna and founded a small bronze factory in 1860. Franz Xavier inherited the company and opened a new foundry in 1900. There he created numerous cold painted (so named because the numerous layers of polychrome paint, applied to the bronze, were not fired to fix them to the metal) figures. Many other bronzes were still based on designs by Franz Bergman, the elder.

Animal Subjects

Animal figures and birds like the cockerel can, occasionally, be found for a few hundred pounds, though sculptures in pristine condition and larger figures can be worth several thousand pounds. Value is affected by condition. The cold painted decoration is relatively easy to damage and worn Enamel will reduce value considerably.

Look out for Bergman’s distinctive signature marks: a ‘B’ in a vase shape and ‘Nam Greb’. This latter, which reads ‘Bergman’ in reverse, was often used on his more erotic pieces, which were not to the taste of his more conservative clients or his family.

These include sensuous poses of young women in the Art Nouveau style, disguised by a covering that revealed all when a button was pushed or a lever moved. Carefully sculpted animals, such as bears, could often be opened to reveal an erotic female figure inside.

Bergman was noted for his detailed and colourful work. He signed with either a letter ‘B’ in an urn-shaped cartouche or ‘Nam Greb’ – ‘Bergman’ in reverse. These marks were used to disguise his identity on erotic works.

Price

£950.00



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The BADA Standard

  • Since 1918, BADA has been the leading association for the antiques and fine art trade
  • Members are elected for their knowledge, integrity and quality of stock
  • Our clients are protected by BADA’s code of conduct
  • Our dealers’ membership is reviewed and renewed annually
  • Bada.org is a non-profit site: clients deal directly with members and they pay no hidden fees
Click here for more information on the BADA Standard