Object Description
Large Viennese Orientalist lamp in cold-painted bronze
Austrian, c. 1910
Height 44cm, width 18cm, depth 15cm
This excellent antique bronze sculpture depicts a simple yet highly authentic scene.
The lamp depicts an Arab transferring water to a vessel, standing beneath a tall palm tree. The waterskin is likely made from goat hide, since goat skin bottles were at the time used to transport water across the Arabian peninsula. This attention to detail adds to the authenticity of the lamp’s design. This realism is furthered by the physicality of the figure, who watches the jugs with an intense expression and tightens his muscles with the effort of pouring.
The vibrant colours of this bronze stand out, with the cold-painting technique used to render the Arab’s Orientalist robes in bright shades of orange and red. These colours are very eye-catching and match beautifully with the natural bronze tones. This is complemented by the textural details, with fine etching on the leaves and trunk of the palm adding to the realism of the piece. A small light fitting is also hidden amongst the leaves.
The underside of the bronze base is stamped ‘AUSTRIA’.
This tender and human scene would make a superb addition to the interior of anyone interested in Orientalist art.