Bronze Inkstand with a Macaw

Description

This piece is a Vienna cold-painted bronze inkstand made in Austria.

• The Subject & Base: The bronze sculpture features a detailed bird perched on a textured branch elevated above a rocky outcrop. The front section of the piece serves as an open pen tray with a rounded, molded rim designed to hold dip pens.
• Inkwell Assembly: Situated on the right side of the rock formation is a single integrated inkwell. The hinged metal lid opens to reveal its original white porcelain insert.
• Decoration & Cold-Painting: The bird figure is finished using the traditional Austrian “cold-painted” bronze technique (where oil-based paints and enamels were applied directly to the cast bronze without firing). The feathers show a rich palette of deep red/scarlet on the head and mantle, transitioning into yellow, green, and blue along the wing coverts and tail feathers.

Type of Bird

The bird portrayed is a Macaw (specifically modeled after a Scarlet Macaw or Red-and-Yellow Macaw).

Key anatomical features pointing to this identification include:

• Head & Facial Bare Patch: The distinct, bare white/grey patch surrounding the eye and extending to the base of the beak is characteristic of macaws.
• Beak Structure: A large, strongly hooked upper mandible resting against a dark lower mandible, shown here in a characteristic downward-preening or inspecting pose.
• Tail & Wings: An exceptionally long, tapered tail feather structure along with yellow and blue accenting on the wing feathers.

Date & Origin

• Period: Circa 1890–1910 (Turn of the 20th Century).
• Origin: Made in Vienna, Austria. The stamped mark “AUSTRIA” on the base border indicates it was cast for export (particularly to English-speaking markets like the US and UK) following standard McKinley Tariff Act marking regulations introduced around 1890.