Statuette, De tapijtverkoper - 9 cm - Cold painted bronze

Antique Viennese Bronze – Oriental rug dealer – Cold-painted bronze – ca. 1900

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

The figurine is distinguished by expressive facial features with a sharply sculpted beard and turban. The cold painting (cold-painted bronze) on the unfolded carpet is strikingly well preserved, with clear geometric patterns in ochre yellow, brick red and white. The details of the burgundy jacket and the multicoloured sash around the waist are also beautifully visible.

On the elevated parts of the garment, the figurine shows the authentic, honest wear of paint inherent to original cold-painted Viennese bronze, where the warm underlying bronze naturally shines through. The piece is completely original and not restored or over-painted.

Specifications

Subject: Oriental rug seller (Teppichhändler)

Provenance: Vienna, Austria

Dating: Circa 1890 – 1910

Material: Bronze alloy, multicoloured cold-painted surface

Height: 9 cm

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

Condition: Very good antique condition with a nicely worn patina and age-appropriate wear to the paint layer of the garment; the polychromy on the carpet is in above-average good condition.