Franz Xavier Bergmann (1861-1936), owned a bronze casting factory, opened by his father, the factory became known throughout the world for its patinated and colored bronze products. Franz himself did not have the education of a sculptor, but directed the creative process in the art workshops of his factory. It is believed that he was the creator of some works, but wished to remain in the shadows.
Figurative Bedouin lamp in a tent patinated bronze cold stained height 36 cm.
The Bergman factory produced table figurines of a wide variety of subjects. My attention was drawn to the theme of oriental exoticism, very popular at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries: harem beauties, princesses, oriental merchants, scribes and Arab warriors. Figurines and figurative compositions are made very expressively, with many finely engraved details, sometimes realistic, often fabulous and fantasy. These compositions were often made in the form of lamps and night lamps. The workshop produced products under the brand name of the company, and the names of the masters who created these models are unknown. To decorate the figurines, patination and staining with the so-called dust paint was used. The pigment has not been fired, hence the “cold staining”.
Arabian princess patinated bronze cold staining height 37 cm.Figurative lamp Ottoman princess on an elephant patinated bronze cold staining marble height 47 cm.
Occasionally, Bergman’s factory produced die-cast figurines to create jewelry table decorations, such as the Cleopatra set on a marble bowl in a dramatic pose and adorned with precious stones.
Figurative lamp Carpet dealer patinated bronze cold coloured height 39 cm.Dealer in antiquities patinated bronze cold staining height 47 cm.Figurative lamp Bedouin on guard patinated bronze cold staining height 43.5 cm.Figurative lamp depicting an oriental beauty and a servant with a fan patinated bronze cold staining height 40 cm.Figure lamp Dealer in Egyptian antiquities patinated bronze cold coloured height 44.5 cm circa 1910.Monkey tamer patinated bronze cold coloured height 25 cm.Dervish with staff patinated bronze cold staining height 23.5 cm.Warriors Prayer patinated bronze cold coloured height 20.5 cm.By the well patinated bronze cold staining height 32 cm.Hunter with a gazelle patinated bronze cold staining gilding height 32 cm.Hawk hunting patinated bronze cold staining gilding height 38 cm.Sculptural group with a woman serving a jug of water to a camel driver patinated bronze cold coloured height 21 cm.Two oriental dancers patinated bronze cold staining height 33 cm.Arab warrior on horseback patinated bronze cold staining height 35 cm Franz Bergmann Vienna.On the edge of the pool patinated bronze cold coloured gilded marble height 28 cm Franz Bergmann Vienna.Arab warrior on horseback patinated bronze cold staining height 39 cm Franz Bergmann Vienna.Tiger hunting patinated bronze cold coloured 30 cm high Franz Bergmann Vienna circa 1910.Arab warrior on a camel patinated bronze cold staining height 30 cm.Girl with a palm leaf patinated bronze cold coloured pink marble height 30.5 cm Franz Bergmann Vienna.Cleopatra patinated bronze cold staining precious stones marble height 36.5 cm Franz Bergmann Vienna.