Inkipedia
Bronze Owl
| Categories | Figural - Animals & Living Creatures |
| Type | Owl |
| Material | Bronze |
| Markings | See narrative |
| Manufacturer | Franz Bergmann |
| Origin | Austria |
| Date or Era | circa 1890 |
| Measuring | 15 ¼” x 3 ½” x 6” tall |
Vienna Bronze cold-painted owl standing on a leaf from the Franz Bergmann foundry in Vienna. The piece has the Bergmann mark (urn with the letter B in the middle) and is marked Geschutzt (patented) on the underside of the leaf. The owl’s head is hinged and opens to access the inkwell (missing insert).
‘Cold-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’. The painting was carried out mainly by women working at home, a typical cottage industry.
Sold for $995 in February 2022
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