Object Description
Orientalist cold-painted bronze sculpture of a boy and a donkey by Bergman
Austrian, c. 1910
Height 30cm, width 28cm, depth 17cm
Franz Xaver Bergman (Austrian, 1861-1936) utilised the very complex technique of cold-painting bronze to craft this charming figurative sculpture.
The piece depicts a young boy standing in front of his donkey. He is dressed in plain, flowing garments and a polychrome head covering. While one of his hands is placed along his body, the other rests on the donkey. Next to it is a book with Arabic markings and other indistinguishable writing.
The donkey is rendered in various shades of brown, and his saddle is covered with red and yellow stripes. Another pop of colour can be observed on the animal’s halter where depictions of blue, red, and yellow ribbons have been added.
The piece is marked on the reverse with a ‘B’ in an urn-shaped cartouche – a typical Bergman mark.
Showcasing the superb skills of artists in the Bergman workshop, this sculpture is a beautiful addition to one’s collection of Austrian bronzes.