Orientalist Bronze Figure From Vienna With Panthers – Bergman Workshop, Vienna, Circa 1900

Orientalist Bronze Figure from Vienna with Panthers – Bergman Workshop, Vienna, circa 1900 (Model 8782) A rare and finely executed Viennese bronze depicting a young Oriental boy leading two panthers by means of chains. The figure stands with calm authority, holding a staff, while the powerful felines advance at his feet. The composition is both dynamic and elegant, perfectly reflecting the fascination with exotic and Orientalist themes that characterized Viennese decorative arts around 1900. Cast in bronze and finished with a rich polychrome cold patina, the sculpture testifies to the remarkable craftsmanship associated with the finest Viennese bronze productions. The naturalistic modeling of the panthers, the delicate rendering of the figure, and the finely worked textures of the drapery and ornamentation reveal the high quality of work from Franz Bergman's workshop. The piece bears the Bergman amphora mark and the inscription "GESCH." "(Protected design)" as well as the model number 8782, confirming its production in the renowned Viennese workshop of Franz Bergman, whose firm gained international acclaim for its imaginative and finely crafted bronze figures. Originally conceived as a lamp base, the sculpture retains the central stem intended to hold the lighting system, a characteristic element of Bergman's decorative production around the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. It can nevertheless be perfectly displayed as a standalone sculptural work. Large-scale Viennese bronze compositions combining a human figure with several animals are considerably rarer than the small, individual figurines more commonly encountered. The presence of the two panthers, the Bergman mark and the original model number make this example particularly sought after by collectors of Viennese bronzes. Dimensions Sculpture: 24 × 21 × 10 cm Total height (with stem): 30 cm A highly decorative and collectible example of the famous Viennese bronze tradition of the early 20th century.