Erotic Oriental Dancer, Franz Xavier Bergman, Vienna Bronze Sculpture, ca. 1900

Description

Jugenstil
Vienna Bronze
of
Erotic Oriental Dancer
by
Franz Xavier Bergman
T
his provocative, desk-size bronze statuette of a semi-nude Oriental dancer in a sensuous, rather candid pose is rendered in the best Art Nouveau traditions of the world-famous Viennese foundry of Franz Xavier Bergman of cold-painted bronze, enamel and glass. It is in excellent original condition with no visible wear or hinge wear, and has an original brown round marble base.
I
n addition to the extremely elaborated outfit and headdress of the dancer, as the part of the composition, the base is partially covered by a crumpled multicolored cold-painted bronze floor rug, which makes the whole sculpture even more realistic.
D
imensions:
Total height:       5 3/4 inches (14.4 cm)
Base height:        1inch (2.5 cm)
Base diameter:    2 1/4 inches (5.6 cm)
F
ranz
X
aver
B
ergman (1861–1936)
F
ranz Xaver Bergman was the owner of a Viennese foundry who produced numerous patinated and cold-painted bronze - Oriental, erotic and animal figures, the latter often humanized or whimsical, humorous objects d'art.
C
old painted bronze refers to pieces cast in Vienna and then decorated in several layers with so called dust paint; the know-how for the mix of this kind of paint has been lost. The color was not fired hence "cold painted".
T
he painting was carried out mainly by women working at home, a typical cottage industry. Noted for his detailed and colorful work, Bergman was signing his creations with either a "B" in an urn-shaped cartouche, or "Nam Greb" - for "Bergman" in reverse. This can be seen on the supplied photo.
T
hese marks were used to disguise his identity on the erotic works. This particular statuette is SIGNED WITH BOTH, "B" in an urn-shaped cartouche AND "Nam Greb".