‘The Slave Seller’ – A Cold Painted Orientalist Bronze Group

Franz Xavier Bergman (1861-1936) was the son of Franz Bergman (1830-1894) a Bohemian metalworker who established a foundry in Vienna in 1860. After his father’s death, Franz Zavier continued the business registering the well-known trademark stamp of the inverted vase with the “B” in the middle.

Although there were many bronze foundries operating in Vienna in this period, it was Bergman’s which has become the most celebrated, especially for his cold painted bronzes. The bronzes were painted with special enamel colours, often applied to the bronze casting whilst still warm, allowing for natural shrinkage on cooling and adding to the permanency of the colour.

Bergman worked with several celebrated sculptors in Vienna at the turn of the 20th Century, such as Bruno Zach, to produce designs for his bronzes.

His figures are often whimsical and satirical normally falling into one of three groups: Orientalist Sculptures, Animal Figures and Erotic Figures. Many of the erotic works were signed with the pseudonym ‚‘Nam Greb‚’ (Bergman spelt backwards), to conceal his identity and avoid controversy.

Literature
Zobel, J., Antique Vienna Bronzes, Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing 2008; p. 233
Berman, Harold, Bronze Sculptures & Founders, p. 942.

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