A Mystery Bronze!

I own several antique bronzes that are mysterious in origin, being unsigned artworks, unmarked advertising pieces, awards, or decorations from an old bank building or some such. I think this one is either an advertising piece or was a logo on some antique thing or another.

I've seen LOTS of reproductions of this image, often as part of a round plaque or medallion. I've also seen them like mine, trimmed around the image, however I've only seen one or two others that have any sort of marks stamped into them, or have details as crisp as this one. On the neck, mine has stamped "REG. U.S. PAT. OFF." There is a fair amount of solder on the back, so I can assume it was once affixed to some other piece of metal as a company logo, though which company that was, I don't know. I haven't cleaned the grime off of it yet, nor given it a good waxing, so I haven't found any other signatures or marks yet. This piece, like the Bergmann Indian with canoe in my last post, came from a hoarder in NY. Supposedly this one sat in a workbench drawer for over fifty years.

If anyone knows the history of this image, please let me know!

Antique Bronze Indian Head Logo, front

Antique Bronze Indian Head Logo, back

"Indian Scout With Canoe" Franz Bergmann Vienna Bronze, Probably By Carl Kauba - Antique!

This is one of my most recent purchases. It's a bronze Indian Scout and Canoe by the Franz Bergmann (often mistakenly spelled "Bergman") foundry in Vienna, Austria. It is about a hundred years old! These Vienna bronzes are pretty rare. They came in so many varieties that not many of any one style were made. I've seen the canoe used in at least three different bronzes, and the Indian (usually holding a rifle, pipe, spear or tomahawk instead of a paddle) in at least four or five more. These bronzes were made from many different models which were individually cast and soldered together in a different way for each specific run of sculptures. I've only ever seen three others of this particular one, however, and one was cast from white metal instead of bronze. I believe the Indian may have been sculpted by the famous Carl Kauba, as I've seen his name inscribed on this very Indian when it was a part of a different sculpture.

My statue was once cold-painted in vivid colors, just like the typical Vienna bronzes are still made, but it appears that some time in antiquity someone decided that it would look better gilded. That gold paint has mostly worn off by this point, leaving the original paint peeking through, as well as a few spots of bronze. I was told this came out of a hoarder's house in New York, and that it had sat high on a bookshelf for over half a century. At some point this bronze had a fall - the Indian's left leg and paddle are bent, as is the upper edge of the canoe where they are brazed together.

Both the Indian and the canoe are signed with the Bergmann "B" inside a shield and the number 3605 (the model, pattern and/or catalog number of the sculpture). The Indian has "GESCHUTZT" (German for "protected", shorthand for copyrighted) stamped down the side of his left buttock and the Bergmann foundry mark and 3605 on the back of his left leg just below his buttock. Where I have seen the Kauba signature on the back of the leg of identical Indians that are part of different overall scenes is where this one is soldered to the canoe. The canoe has the foundry mark and pattern number on both sides of the underside, just above the seam.

The last few pictures were taken through my Luxo magnifier. The fluorescent light tends to throw the color balance off, but I really wanted good close ups of the hallmarks.

I may have it repaired in the near future. The damage isn't severe, and I think it would be well worth the expense to have it fixed correctly. I don't have much into it...

I have recently purchased a white metal copy of this bronze. It does not have hallmarks or signatures but it was probably also produced by the Bergmann foundry. It is in near pristine condition, even the paint is nearly perfect. I'll post pictures of it soon.

"Indian With Canoe", Franz Bergmann Foundry, Vienna, front

"Indian With Canoe", Franz Bergmann Foundry, Vienna, close up

"Indian With Canoe", Franz Bergmann Foundry, Vienna, back

"Indian With Canoe", Franz Bergmann Foundry, Vienna, canoe hallmarks

"Indian With Canoe", Franz Bergmann Foundry, Vienna, Indian hallmarks

"Indian With Canoe", Franz Bergmann Foundry, Vienna, "GESCHUTZT" hallmark on Indian

"Indian With Canoe", Franz Bergmann Foundry, Vienna, Bergmann foundry hallmark on Indian

Terry S. Gilbreth Bronze - A Very Lucky Find

Another piece that claims a place of pride in my collection is this bronze by Texas artist Terry S. Gilbreth titled "Seeking Ancients". This is numbered 1 (yes, the very first!) of 25. That means that in the entire world, there are only 25 of these, and I have the first. It's kind of mind-blowing.

You really have to see his work to believe it. I still can't believe I was fortunate enough to find this, much less be able to afford it. I really can't believe I wasn't outbid, either! The universe aligned for me, I figure.

"Seeking Ancients" by Terry S. Gilbreth, bronze, 1/25, front

"Seeking Ancients" by Terry S. Gilbreth, bronze, 1/25, right

"Seeking Ancients" by Terry S. Gilbreth, bronze, 1/25, back

"Seeking Ancients" by Terry S. Gilbreth, bronze, 1/25, left

"Seeking Ancients" by Terry S. Gilbreth, bronze, 1/25, signature

A Beautiful Bronze By Nelson Tsosie, Diné Artist

This bronze was an extremely lucky find, with a very low buy-it-now price that I could actually afford. I snapped it up! The piece is titled "Mighty Hunter" by Arizona artist Nelson Tsosie (tribal affiliation: Navajo). It depicts an Indian boy sighting in his arrow while laying among the rocks. It's a very well executed and cute work! The colorful patinas add to the "wow" effect and really make it pop. The concentration on the boy's face is captured so well... This one is numbered 17 of 25 and is in perfect condition. I couldn't get a clear picture of the signature, sorry about that.

Check out Mr. Tsosie's work - the link to his site is at the right. He's really good!

"Mighty Hunter" by Nelson Tsosie, bronze, 17/25, front

"Mighty Hunter" by Nelson Tsosie, bronze, 17/25, left

"Mighty Hunter" by Nelson Tsosie, bronze, 17/25, back

"Mighty Hunter" by Nelson Tsosie, bronze, 17/25, right

My Charles Marion Russell bronzes

Much as my first post may have seemed like a rant against knockoffs and ripoffs, there is one fact that overrides my objections. I'm po. Like, open the wallet and moths come out - level po. Heck, I can't even afford to put the "or" on the back end of "po". Two letters? Too much!!!

For me, it's all a matter of what kind of deal I'm getting on the pieces offered. If I can find an original, or one from an original run of a bronze and I can afford it, then sure! That's what I'm going to buy. But if I find a decent reproduction for a silly low price, then why not? That's where my Charles Marion Russell pieces come in.

I've always been a huge fan of Russell, more so even than of his contemporary and friend, Frederic Remington. In my opinion, ol' Charlie had a crackin' sense of humor, and it comes through most clearly in his sculptures. To me, they have a playfulness, a joie de vivre, that is really lacking in most Western art. Most artists seem to have a serious point to make with their art - even the way they capture play makes a serious statement. Charlie's work, on the other hand, is imbued with that playfulness instead of merely illustrating it. If I were at a gallery opening of his one-man show, I picture him with a tumbler of whiskey in his hand, poking me in the side and sharing a smile and chuckle over one of his sculptures. It's like being in on the joke.

The first one here is titled "Scalp Dancer". It is signed with Russell's name and buffalo skull mark, but there are no foundry chop marks or catalogue numbers (most of his original bronzes were not limited by edition size, but by how many he could sell). I believe it was made sometime in the 1980's, but I'm not sure. It's in great shape, with no visible or known flaws, and is quite substantial and heavy. I bought it for peanuts (I ate crackers that night, having spent the peanuts), considering the actual going rate for a reproduction like this is well in the order of ten times more.  As a bonus, the seller was in my home town, and it was an easy drive to pick it up (and I saved on shipping). Score!

"Scalp Dancer" by Charles Marion Russell, posthumous copy, front

"Scalp Dancer" by Charles Marion Russell, posthumous copy, right

"Scalp Dancer" by Charles Marion Russell, posthumous copy, back

"Scalp Dancer" by Charles Marion Russell, posthumous copy, left

"Scalp Dancer" by Charles Marion Russell, posthumous copy, signature

The second piece is titled "Buffalo Rubbing Rock" and was one of a pair intended as bookends. The seller only had one, and who needs half of a pair? Well, as a matter of fact, I don't mind that at all. I figure this is a third or fourth generation recast made somewhere around the 1950's-60's. The detail is nowhere near as sharp as it should be, but the patina and marble suggest the date. Again, it was cheap - really cheap. I think the scrap value of the bronze is actually higher. Like "Scalp Dancer", this is signed CM Russell, dated 1921 and bears his buffalo skull device, but no foundry marks. An almost identical one sold at Bonham's very recently (last week) for $625. SCORE!!

"Buffalo Rubbing Rock" by Charles Marion Russell, 1921, bronze, posthumous recast, front

"Buffalo Rubbing Rock" by Charles Marion Russell, 1921, bronze, posthumous recast, right

"Buffalo Rubbing Rock" by Charles Marion Russell, 1921, bronze, posthumous recast, back

"Buffalo Rubbing Rock" by Charles Marion Russell, 1921, bronze, posthumous recast, left

"Buffalo Rubbing Rock" by Charles Marion Russell, 1921, bronze, posthumous recast, signature

Gordon G. Pond (1920-2001) - "Mescalero Apache"

This bronze is something of a mystery to me. I purchased it from a dealer who specializes in Western decorative pieces, yet it's definitely a fine art lost wax casting. The artist, Gordon G. Pond (1920-2001), was a professor of art at Compton College in Los Angeles. He used to spend his summers in Arizona, where he painted the local landscape, towns and people. He was also an amateur archaeologist, writing several articles for magazines and two textbooks over the course of his life. Mr. Pond retired to Arizona where he continued to create art until his death in 2001. Now, I've seen many of his paintings, and they're quite nice, if a bit stylized. I had never encountered a sculpture by him before, however. This undated bronze is titled "Mescalero Apache" and is signed Gordon G. Pond. There are no foundry or edition marks on it that I could find. I had thought it unique, but recently I had an email from a fellow who says that his father bought a copy many years ago from a gallery in Arizona.

If anyone has more info on this lovely piece, please let me know!! And yes, he does lean a bit to one side, and no, he's not damaged - he's leaning on his spear.

"Mescalero Apache" by Gordon G. Pond, bronze, front

"Mescalero Apache" by Gordon G. Pond, bronze, left

"Mescalero Apache" by Gordon G. Pond, bronze, back

"Mescalero Apache" by Gordon G. Pond, bronze, right

"Mescalero Apache" by Gordon G. Pond, bronze, signature

A Piece By Sculptor Alex LaFountain

Next up is a piece I won in an online auction by the late Chippewa artist Alex LaFountain. He was primarily known as a sculptor, but was an accomplished painter as well. He owned his own foundry, and from about 1970 cast his own bronzes.

His was a rather tragic death - in August of 1971 he was riding an air mattress down the Missouri River near Great Falls, Montana, not far from his hometown of Lewistown. He spotted a swimmer in distress and jumped in to save him, and drowned in the process. He was highly regarded in his lifetime, and is still widely collected today. I'm very fortunate to be the owner of this fine and fun piece.

I believe the title is "Dancing Bear," but I'm not certain. Mine is number 4 of 40, made in 1969. It's a very playful piece, and very popular with young 'uns as well as the young at heart.

"Dancing Bear" by Alex LaFountain, bronze, 1969, 4/40, front

"Dancing Bear" by Alex LaFountain, bronze, 1969, 4/40, right

"Dancing Bear" by Alex LaFountain, bronze, 1969, 4/40, back

"Dancing Bear" by Alex LaFountain, bronze, 1969, 4/40, right

"Dancing Bear" by Alex LaFountain, bronze, 1969, 4/40, signature

Paul Joseph Speckled Rock Tafoya (1952-2017) Sculptures

Known mainly for his traditional Santa Clara Pueblo etched pottery, a tradition passed down in his family, Paul Joseph Speckled Rock Tafoya (tribal affiliation: Santa Clara Pueblo) was also one heck of a good sculptor. I've only been able to find information on a handful of pieces that he cast into bronze. I'm very lucky to be the owner of two of them, and in my humble opinion, they're two of his best. I don't have a link for him - in all honesty, I've never seen that he had much of an online presence at all. He ran a pottery studio and gallery on the Santa Clara Pueblo called Merrock Galleria, but by the time of his passing in 2017 it had been closed for several years. 

I won the first bronze (I found out later it is titled "Little Deer") in an online auction, then negotiated a good price for the second, from the same seller. Each piece is highly detailed and quite stunning. Taken together, they have great impact and presence. They sure make a statement on my mantle!

I do not know the title of the second piece, so I called it "Crouching Warrior." Clever, I know. My "Little Deer" (the standing one) is the Artist's Proof of 15 (likely 16 including this A/P). "Crouching Warrior" is numbered 12/30. I don't know how many were actually made however. If anyone knows the actual titles of these pieces, please let me know!!!

Edit: I have discovered that the title of the "Standing Warrior" is actually "Little Deer," and I've seen another come up for sale which also indicated the edition size. I've edited this post and changed the image descriptions accordingly.

"Little Deer" by Paul Joseph Speckled Rock, bronze, A/P/15 (or 16), front

"Little Deer" by Paul Joseph Speckled Rock, bronze, A/P/15 (or 16), left

"Little Deer" by Paul Joseph Speckled Rock, bronze, A/P/15 (or 16), back

"Little Deer" by Paul Joseph Speckled Rock, bronze, A/P/15 (or 16), right

"Little Deer" by Paul Joseph Speckled Rock, bronze, A/P/15 (or 16), close up

"Little Deer" by Paul Joseph Speckled Rock, bronze, A/P/15 (or 16), signature

(Unknown title) by Paul Joseph Speckled Rock, bronze, 12/30, front

(Unknown title) by Paul Joseph Speckled Rock, bronze, 12/30, right

(Unknown title) by Paul Joseph Speckled Rock, bronze, 12/30, back

(Unknown title) by Paul Joseph Speckled Rock, bronze, 12/30, left

(Unknown title) by Paul Joseph Speckled Rock, bronze, 12/30, close up

(Unknown title) by Paul Joseph Speckled Rock, bronze, 12/30, signature