Slave Exchange
by Cheri Randolph
Title
Slave Exchange
Artist
Cheri Randolph
Medium
Photograph
Description
Photo of vintage bronze sculpture captured in Royal Street antique market in New Orleans.
This bronze figure study is from the workshops of Franz Xaver Bergmann (1861-1936). who was the owner of a Viennese foundry which produced numerous patinated and cold-painted bronze Oriental, erotic and animal figures, the latter often humanized or whimsical, humorous objects d'art. Noted for his detailed and colorful work, and signing either a 'B' in an urn-shaped cartouche or 'Nam Greb' - 'Bergman' in reverse. These marks were used to disguise his identity on erotic works.
Many of Bergmann's works have a Turkish theme, and I believe this to be a depiction of the offering of a female slave in that country. Slavery was an important part of Ottoman society until the Ottoman Empire ended slavery of Caucasians in the early 19th century. The practice carried over into Ottoman reign, as slaves from other groups were allowed. As late as 1908, female slaves were still sold in the Ottoman Empire.
A member of the Ottoman slave class, called a kul in Turkish, could achieve high status. Harem guards and janissaries are some of the better known positions a slave could hold, but slaves were actually at the forefront of Ottoman politics. The majority of officials in the Ottoman government were bought slaves, raised free, and integral to the success of the Ottomans from the 14th century to the 19th. By raising and specially training slaves as officials, they created administrators with intricate knowledge of government and fanatic loyalty, thus reducing corruption. As an administrator with no ties in the region, he would not favor one person over another when granting contracts.[citation needed] In Constantinople (today Istanbul), the administrative and political center of the Empire, about a fifth of the population consisted of slaves.
His father Franz Bergmann was a professional chaser from Gablonz/Bohemia who came to Vienna and founded a small bronze factory in 1860. His son Franz Xaver Bergmann (1861 - 1936) inherited the company and opened a new foundry in 1900. Many of the bronzes from the 1900s were still based on designs from his fathers workshop.
He was not a sculptor himself as often described wrongfully. There were many anonymous sculptors, hired temporarily by the workshops. At the turn of the 19th/20th Century there were about fifty workshops producing Vienna Bronzes.
'Cold painted bronze' refers to pieces cast in Vienna and then decorated in several layers with so called dust paint; the know-how for the mix of this kind of paint has been lost. The color was not fired hence "cold painted". The painting was carried out mainly by women working at home, a typical cottage industry.
Sensuous poses of young women in the Art Nouveau style were disguised by a covering that revealed all when a button was pushed or a lever moved. Often carefully sculpted animals, such as bears, could be opened to reveal an erotic figure inside.
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May 14th, 2012
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Comments (15)
Cheri Randolph
Rosalie, thanks for your comment. Yes, I have mixed emotions about this one. I have an appreciation for the sculpture artistically - I especially admire the flow of the draperies, but have an absolute horror of the subject depicted. I appreciate your support.
Fania Simon
Hmmm...Cheri, this is amazing / historically deep! It speaks volumes. The trading market, from places like Goree Island (West Africa) to the continent of America! f/v