Large Austrian wood and cold-painted bronze lamp

Large Austrian wood and cold-painted bronze lamp
Austria, c. 1910
Height 42cm, width 41cm, depth 30cm
 
This Orientalist lamp is an unusual example of the cold-painted bronze designs that were flourishing in Vienna at the turn of the 20th century. The piece places a bronze design on a wooden base with a sand top, which has been expertly carved and coated with resin to resemble a tree stump.
 
The lamp depicts a camel and its rider sitting under the shade of a palm tree. Both figures are rendered with excellent skill, with the vibrant colours of the camel’s saddle and the man’s Orientalist clothing catching the viewer’s eye. Superb carving detail can also be seen in the trunk of the tree, which has been carefully etched to resemble the texture of bark, visually linking to the wooden base below. The lamp itself is hidden from sight amongst the bright green leaves of the palm.
 
The side of the bronze base is stamped with the mark ‘AUSTRIA’.
 
Depicting a calm moment of rest, this evocative cold-painted bronze lamp showcases the excellent pieces being made at the time and would make a wonderful addition to any Orientalist collection.