Bronze Rhinoceros Inkstand

This Austrian bronze figural inkstand (sometimes classified as Vienna Bronze) depicts an Indian Rhinoceros standing before a rustic wooden corral fence.

Where It Was Made

• Country of Origin: Austria (Vienna)
• Context: Vienna was the world capital for high-quality, whimsical, and highly detailed cold-painted bronze figures during this era. Famous foundries like those of Franz Xaver Bergmann produced numerous animal-themed desk accessories, including exotic wildlife, which were frequently marked Geschützt (legally protected/copyrighted) on the underside. This piece is unmarked.

When It Was Made

• Estimated Period: Circa 1900–1910

Key Features & Design

• The Subject: The figure accurately captures the distinct armor-like skin folds and single horn of an Indian Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis).
• The Mechanism: The saddle-like armor plating on the rhinoceros’s back is a hinged lid. When flipped open, it reveals a well designed to hold a removable white porcelain insert.
• The Base & Backdrop: The rhino is positioned on a textured, naturalistic ground simulating soil and grass, backed by an open-work bronze fence designed to look like rough-hewn tree branches or logs.