Cold-painted Bronze Inkwell From Vienna (1900-1910)

This elegant set of inkwells features a realistic scene of a fox about to pounce on a hare. The fox is depicted in a dynamic posture, crouching down with its tail outstretched and its gaze fixed on its prey. The hare is in a passive posture, reinforcing the tension of the scene. The bronze set is mounted on an oval marble base.

The manufacture of this piece is based on the centuries-old tradition of Vienna Bronzes. The process begins with the casting of individual figures using the lost-wax method. This technique made it possible to cast highly complex and detailed shapes that would have been lost with standard casting. After casting, the pieces were chiselled by hand; using fine punches and chisels, the craftsman rendered the peeling texture and eliminated all casting joints. The most crucial technical step is what is known as cold painting, which involved working with oil-based lacquers applied in several thin layers over the cold bronze. This process demanded extreme precision: each layer of color had to be completely dry before the next was applied, in order to achieve the characteristic matte, realistic effect.

The ink tank has a removable porcelain inner container. This was an essential technical addition to prevent the aggressive tannic acids contained in the ink of the time from corroding the bronze from the inside.