Viennese bronzes
As Vienna Bronzes are called in bronze cast statuettes Vienna manufacturer, the 20th in the 19th and early century as ornaments ( "Nippes") wide dissemination found today but rather appreciated by narrower collector circles.
Simpler goods of this kind have been produced since the Biedermeier period . The peak of demand came in the early days : numerous companies produced more or less exotic human figures (Orientals, Indians, "Moors") on their mounts, then also animals without human accompaniment from elephants and lions to dogs and hares and small animals like frogs and insects.
There were dramatic groups of figures (fighting scenes) and humorous (human-clad animals), and erotica were produced, for example as mechanical bronzes for “gentlemen's rooms”.
In the two world wars, many Viennese bronzes were melted down due to the metal needs of the artillery.
Around 1900 there were around 80 relevant businesses in Vienna , which, however, had to close almost all of them due to a change in European public taste.