Large Austrian cold-painted bronze lamp of a palace guard by Bergman

Large Austrian cold-painted bronze lamp of a palace guard by Bergman
Austrian, c. 1910
Height 33cm, width 15cm, depth 13cm
 
Superbly crafted by Franz Xaver Bergman (1861-1936) in the early 20th century, this large figurative lamp showcases a guard in front of a palace entrance.
 
The central figure, the guard, is dressed in Orientalist-style clothing mostly rendered in shades of gold. His head is adorned with an eye-catching, bright yellow head covering. He is holding a spear in his right hand while his left is resting on the waist. 
 
The black steps in front lead the viewer’s eye towards the geometric Islamic-style floor tiles. Coloured in various shades of orange, red, green and cream they add another pop of colour to the lamp’s design. The architecture surrounding the guard is inspired by Islamic design. Above hangs a large carpet adorned with floral decorations painted in similar shades as the details below. The sculptural lamp is topped with two vessels.
 
On the reverse, the piece is stamped with a ‘B’ in an urn-shaped cartouche.
 
Embodying the skill of one of the best Austrian artists of the early 20th century, the lamp would make an exquisite addition to one’s collection of cold-painted bronzes.
 
Artist/Maker: Franz Xaver Bergman