Antique Franz Bergmann Cold Painted Bronze

Item Details

A cold painted bronze figural sculpture marked ‘Nam Greb.’ Franz Xaver Bergmann (Austrian, 1861-1936) owned a foundry famous for its production of cold painted bronzes treating Orientalist subjects as well as animal figures. Although he employed numerous artists who designed some of these pieces, it is said that he also marked his own erotic designs ‘Nam Greb’ as a pseudonym. This particular example portrays a sleeping odalisque, representing a notion of female sensuality popular among European and other Western artists in the early 20th century. The figure rests on an animal skin on a large pillow placed on a beautiful rug, and when the blanket is lifted her naked form is revealed. The incised ‘Nam Greb’ mark is located on a pillow edge. The underside is unpainted with a single screw and bolt holding the figure in place.

Condition

- underside is unpainted with some scratches and edge wear.

Dimensions

Item #

17STL006-103