Inkwell - Bronze (gilt/silvered/patinated/cold painted)

This refined ink reservoir presents a faithful tableau of a fox poised to ambush a hare. The fox is depicted in a dynamic, low ambush stance with an outstretched tail and a gaze focused on the prey. The hare is in a passive posture, which heightens the tension of the scene. The bronze ensemble is mounted on an oval marble plinth.

The fabrication of this piece rests on the centuries-old tradition of Wiener Bronzen. The process begins with casting the individual figures via the cire perdue method. This technique allowed for very complex and detailed forms to be cast that would be lost with standard casting methods. After casting, the pieces were hand-ciseleed; with fine punches and gravers the craftsman imparted the texture of the fur and removed all casting seams. The most crucial technical phase is the so-called cold painting, in which oil-based lacquers were applied in multiple thin layers onto the cold bronze. This process required immense precision: each color layer had to fully cure before the next was applied to achieve the characteristic matte, realistic effect.

The ink reservoir is equipped with a loose porcelain inner pot. This was an essential technical addition to prevent the aggressive tannins in the ink of the time from corroding the bronze from within.