Wiener Werkstätte - Statuette, De tapijtverkoper - 9 cm - Cold painted bronze

Antique Viennese Bronze – Oriental Rug Dealer – Cold-Painted Bronze – circa 1900

A finely detailed antique Viennese bronze (Wiener Bronze) depicting an Oriental rug trader kneeling to display a multicolored knot-work rug. Beside him lies a second rolled rug ready. This characteristic genre scene seamlessly reflects the great fascination with Orientalism in Western Europe around the turn of the century (Belle Époque, ca. 1890–1910).

The figurine stands out for its expressive facial features with a sharply sculpted beard and turban. The cold painting (cold-painted bronze) on the unfolded rug is strikingly well preserved, with bright geometric patterns in ochre yellow, brick red and white. Also the details of the burgundy vest and the multicolored sash around the waist are nicely visible.

On the raised parts of the garb the figurine displays the authentic, honest paint wear inherent to original cold-painted Viennese bronze, where the warm underlying bronze naturally shows through. The piece is entirely original and not restored or overpainted.

Specifications

Subject: Oriental rug dealer (Teppichhändler)

Provenance: Vienna, Austria

Dating: Circa 1890 – 1910

Material: Bronze alloy, multicolored cold-painted

Height: 9 cm

Execution: Free-standing hollow casting (sand-casting process), unmarked

Condition: Very good antique condition with a nicely aged patina and age-appropriate wear to the paint on the garb; the polychromy on the rug is in unusually good condition.