Buyer Be Aware! Cold Painted Bronze Pug

This dog is cute. Maybe even adorable! But he is not vintage, and not an antique.

Q. But the seller said this is a Franz Bergmann piece! Franz Bergmann produced whimsical bronzes like this.

A. Have you ever held a Bergmann bronze in your hands? Have you seen one in person up close? I know Bergmann. This is no Bergmann.

Q. But the piece is “signed”. I can’t make out the signature, but it’s signed!

A. OK, now you’re getting the picture. If the signature were authentic, you’d be able to read it.

Q. But this dog has glass eyes. With glass eyes, he must be vintage, right?

A. They still make glass eyes. The glass eyes don’t make this antique.

Q. But look at the paint. There’s paint loss from wear and tear over the years.

A. Yes, there’s paint loss. When making pieces to look old, they work on making the surface look old.

Q. Are you sure my cute pug is not an antique?

Q. Look at the hinge. It’s too big and heavy for an authentic Austrian bronze. Lift the head – look at the thickness of the metal. And that inside opening for an insert (missing here) is so crudely fashioned!

Q. But I love my puggley wuggley! The only thing is…I may have paid way too much for him.

A. Yep.