An Austrian cold painted bronze model of a magpie, late 19th or early 20th century

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VA… Read more

Austrian Cold Painted Bronzes Towards the end of the nineteenth century the casting of bronzes throughout continental Europe had already grown into a substantial industry and art form. Today, the collector often associates Vienna with the production of cold painted miniature bronzes. The popular themes of the day, cast in numerous unidentified bronze foundries, varied from the exotic world of Arab warriors, to the familiar wildlife of continental Europe. Generally rendered in miniature and meticulously painted in enamel, some models are marked by an incision into the cast or stamped with the foundry name. Franz Bergman is the most noted sculptor of this genre and established the prolific foundry in 1885. Many of these bronzes are actually classified as "Bergman", but not all are incised with the infamous B within a scrolling vase. Franz Bergman, born in 1834, learnt his bronze casting skills as an apprentice in the workshops of Joseph Ott. He only enjoyed the independence and prestige of running his own foundry for just under ten years, until his death in 1894. His son, Franz Xavier maintained the family firm, and under his jurisdiction the well-known trademark was actually registered. Into the early twentieth century the foundry output must have increased as other sculptors joined. One sculptor, known as "Thuss", signed his work Nam Greb (Bergman spelt in reverse), which is often thought to be work by Bergman's hand. The foundry was actually closed during the inter-war depression but was rejuvenated for a short time by Franz Bergman's grandson, Robert, until his death in 1954. COMPARATIVE LITERATURE BRONZES - SCULPTORS & FOUNDERS 1800-1930, Harold Berman, 1981 Abage Publishers Lots 190 -- 196, A collection of Austrian cold painted bronzes

An Austrian cold painted bronze model of a magpie, late 19th or early 20th century

BERGMAN FACTORY

Details

An Austrian cold painted bronze model of a magpie, late 19th or early 20th century
Bergman factory
Stamped to the underside with a 'B' within an urn and indistinctly numbered
12½in. (31.8cm.) long

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis. All lots sold not cleared by 1.00p.m. on the Thursday following the sale will be removed to the warehouse of: Cadogan Tate Ltd., Fine Art Services Cadogan House, 2 Relay Road London W12 7JS Telephone: 44 (0)20 8753 3700 Facsimile: 44 (0)20 8753 3701 Lots will be available for collection following transfer to Cadogan Tate on the Friday following the sale and every weekday from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE NO CHARGE TO PURCHASERS WHO COLLECT THEIR LOTS WITHIN ONE WEEK OF THE SALE. On the Thursday one week after the sale, a transfer and administration charge of £18.50 per lot will be payable and a storage charge of £3.20 per lot per day will then come into effect. These charges are payable to Cadogan Tate and are subject to VAT and an insurance surcharge.

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