Cats In A Hot-air Balloon - Viennese Bronze, Bergmann, Circa 1900

Very rare and amusing cold-painted Viennese bronze depicting two cats seated in the basket of a hot-air balloon.

The composition is particularly lively: the balloon is slightly tilted, as if being carried away by the wind, giving the whole piece a strong sense of movement. The basket is finely modelled to imitate woven wicker, while the metal balloon is brightly painted and connected to the basket by slender twisted cords.

The scene reflects the enduring popularity of ballooning imagery in the 19th century, when it was strongly associated with travel, adventure and technological progress.

The piece bears the “B” within an amphora mark of the Franz Xaver Bergmann workshop, together with the “Austria” mark.

Viennese work, circa 1900.
In good overall condition. 
Some wear to the cold-painted decoration and minor age-related alterations to the balloon.