Viennese cold-painted bronze sculpture of an Arab holding a gun

This vibrant cold-painted bronze lamp is an exemplar of the beautiful pieces being made in Vienna at the beginning of the 20^th century.

The sculpture depicts a lone male figure, who stands hostile with his gun cocked against a coming threat that the observer cannot see. The man is dressed in typical Orientalist clothing. Through the use of the cold-painting technique the maker has rendered his robes in stunning shades of ochre and russet, contrasted by the vibrant green of the striped sash around his middle. Alongside the gun in his hands, the figure’s sash holds a pair of daggers, setting up this soldier to be prepared for any dangers.

The sculpture features exceptional carving, such as the naturalistic rendering of the soldier’s robes. Underneath the figure, an additional piece of bronze has been expertly sculpted to depict the contours of a rocky outcrop from which the figure can stand guard. The entire bronze piece is mounted on top of a beautiful octagonal marble slab, which excellently complements the autumnal colour palette of the sculpture.

The reverse of the sculpture is stamped ‘ARGENTOR WIEN’, referring to the Argentor-works (one of the largest manufacturers for metal products of the Viennese Jugendstil Movement).

With its beautiful colour palette and striking subject, this figure would be a wonderful addition to the collection of anyone interested in Orientalism.