About Franz Bergman

Franz Xavier Bergman(n) (July 27, 1861 – January 1, 1936) was the owner of a Viennese foundry known for producing a wide range of patinated and cold-painted bronze figures. His work included Orientalist subjects, erotic scenes, and whimsical animal figures—many of which were anthropomorphized or humorous in nature.

Bergmann gained recognition for the intricate detail and vivid coloration of his bronzes. His pieces were typically signed either with a “B” inside an urn-shaped cartouche or with the pseudonym “Nam Greb” (his surname spelled backwards), the latter often used to obscure his identity on more risqué works.

His father, Franz Bergmann (September 26, 1838 – 1894), was a skilled chaser from Gablonz who moved to Vienna and established a small bronze workshop in 1860. Franz Xavier inherited the business and, in 1900, opened a new foundry. Many of the designs used in the early 1900s were adapted from his father’s original models.

Though frequently mistaken for a sculptor, Bergmann was not one himself; he managed the foundry and employed numerous freelance sculptors. Notably, Bruno Zach collaborated with Bergmann to cast several of his works—particularly his more erotic creations, which were sometimes signed under the alias “Prof. Tuch”.

By the turn of the 20th century, Vienna was home to around fifty workshops specializing in bronze casting. One notable technique was cold-painting, where bronze pieces were painted with multiple layers of pigment—commonly referred to as “dust paint”—without being kiln-fired. This technique, whose exact methods have since been lost, resulted in the richly colored finishes for which Vienna bronzes are known. Much of this painting was done by women working from home, reflecting the cottage-industry nature of the trade.

Bergmann’s erotic bronzes were often cleverly disguised: Art Nouveau-style figures of sensuous young women might be modestly clothed until a button was pressed or a lever moved, revealing a hidden scene. In some cases, intricately crafted animals—like bears—could be opened to uncover an erotic figure inside.