Wild Boar Pen Wipe

Vienna cold painted bronze pen wipes such as this wild boar were popular desk accessories during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when dip pens were the standard for writing.

Description & Materials

The figure is cast in bronze and “cold painted,” a technique where several layers of unfired pigment or enamel were applied to the metal. This specific boar features these details:

• Eyes: The red highlights around the eyes are typical of the expressive, naturalistic style of Viennese animalier bronzes.
• Tusks: It has well-defined tusks and a textured “hide” that blends seamlessly into the brush.
• The Brush: The material used to wipe the pen is natural boar bristles. These were chosen for their durability and stiffness, which effectively scrubbed away dried ink from the nib without scratching the metal.

Origin & Age

• Place of Manufacture: These figures almost exclusively originated in Vienna, Austria. Foundries like Franz Bergman (the most famous) and others in the “Vienna Bronze” tradition specialized in these whimsical, high-quality desk pieces.
• Age: Based on the style and subject matter, this piece likely dates from circa 1880 to 1910.