Large Austrian Orientalist cold-painted bronze lamp by Bergman

This very fine Orientalist lamp was crafted by Franz Xaver Bergman (Austrian, 1861-1936), the leading artist of cold-painted bronzes.

The figurative lamp depicts a young woman reclining on a cushioned seat playing a mandolin and singing. She is clothed in typical Orientalist style clothing rendered in shades of gold and cream. Her facial features are superbly cast and painted portraying the figure in a lively mood. A polychrome patterned rug drapes down the steps below her, its design complementing that of the upholstered seat.

A domed canopy protects her from the elements. It includes a pierced window and a draped red and cream curtain drawn together with a tasselled string. A shield and a flag further adorn the construction. The green, patterned top features trefoil windows, each one filled with coloured glass, which when lit, beautifully illuminates the scene below. A crescent mood surmounts the whole piece, and the same symbol can also be observed on the flagpole.

To the reverse the piece features a typical Bergman mark; a ‘B’ in an urn-shaped cartouche, ‘GESCH’ as well as ‘3’.

Utilizing the very complex cold-painting technique, Bergman created a superb piece that would add charm to any interior space.