Object Description
Antique Austrian Orientalist cold-painted bronze lamp
Austrian, Early 20th Century
Height 25cm, width 16cm, depth 12cm
Depicting a charming school scene, this Orientalist lamp wrought in the traditional Viennese manner from cold-painted bronze is a superb example of early 20th century design.
The main body of this sculptural lamp is cast in the shape of a traditional Orientalist building covered with various textiles such as rugs, providing protection from the sun and rain. On a raised plinth sits a teacher dressed in bright marigold clothing tied together with a red belt. His head is beautifully adorned with a polychrome head covering. He is holding a stick in his hand which is used to point at the blackboard behind him.
In front of him sit three young boys, each cast in a unique pose. The first child is sitting against the wall in a cross-legged position holding a piece of paper, while the one in front of him is leaning on one hand and pointing at the blackboard with the other. The last child figure raises his hands next to his face. All children are dressed in a similar manner with loose colourful garments and red head coverings.
The lamp is stamped ‘AUSTRIA’ and inscribed on the underside ‘SCHULE’ (‘school’ in German).
A magnificent example of a now forgotten and complex manufacturing technique depicting a wonderful scene, this lamp is a very desirable home décor piece.