Masterfully antique sculpture “Arab with a monkey“, polychrome cold painted bronze by most famous Viennese bronze sculptor  Franz Xavier Bergmann. Franz Xavier Bergman (1861 – 1936) was a most famous Viennese sculptor who produced numerous cold-painted bronze oriental and animal figures. Noted for his detailed and colourful work, and signing either a ´B´ in an urn-shaped cartouche or ´Nam Greb´ - ´Bergman´ in reverse. These marks were used to disguise his identity on erotic works.´Cold painted bronze´ refers to pieces cast in Vienna and then decorated with oil paint. The colour was not fired hence "cold painted". Sensuous poses of young women in the Art Nouveau style were disguised by a covering that revealed all when a button was pushed or a lever moved. Often carefully sculpted animals, such as bears, could be opened to reveal an erotic figure inside.

Literature : Thieme/Becker "Lexicon of artists from antique to contemporary", Leipzig, 1999. Prof.H.Fuchs "Lexicon of Austrian Artists", Vienna, 1975.

Inscription: impressed mark : ´B´ (for Bergmann) ans a number on the back of carpet.

Technique: cold painted bronze.

Measurements: h. 2 7/8" x w. 4 1/3" (7,3 x 11 cm).

Condition: in very good original condition. The sculpture was previously used as a figurative lamp, a socket was mounted inside the basket (see add.photo), and an electric wire was previously installed on the back of the basket, which was later cut. If desired, you can restore the wiring.