Austrian Bronze Elephant with Rider

An elephant with a dark skinned (Indian? Arab?) rider and trunk raised is captured in mid-stride climbing the steps of a stone structure – perhaps a fountain. An Oriental carpet is draped over the steps. The elephant’s head is hinged and when opened reveals a pen wipe in the elephant’s body and lifts the lid covering the stone structure to reveal an inkwell (insert missing).

The outer wall of the stone fountain is decorated with Buddha figures. And signed at the edge is a character “B” enclosed into an urn-shaped cartouche – a mark for the Viennese Bergmann factory. Further, the signature of “Nam Greb” (Bergman in reverse) marks the piece.

Franz Xaver Bergman (or Franz Xaver Bergmann / 1861–1936) was the owner of a Viennese foundry who produced numerous patinated and cold-painted bronze Oriental and erotic pieces as well as animal figures. The animal figures were often humanized or whimsical, humorous objects d’art. Noted for his detailed and colorful work and signing either a ‘B’ in an urn-shaped cartouche or ‘Nam Greb’ – ‘Bergman’ in reverse. These marks were used to disguise his identity in erotic works. – His father Franz Bergmann was a professional chaser from Gablonz / Bohemia who came to Vienna and founded a small bronze factory in 1860. His son Franz Xaver Bergmann (1861 – 1936) inherited the company and opened a new foundry in 1900.