CHARMING SET OF ELEVEN HAND-PAINTED BRONZE FIGURINES OF FAVORITE BEATRIX POTTER BOOK CHARACTERS

POTTER, Beatrix. Eleven hand-painted bronze figurines [Beatrix Potter characters. Probably Vienna: Probably Franz Bergmann, circa 1913-1933. Bronze figures measure 1/2 inch to 1-1/2 inches tall, original paintwork. $6800.

Charming group of eleven early 20th-century hand-painted bronze figures of characters from Beatrix Potter’s works.

This wonderful set of miniature bronze figurines includes three figures of Peter Rabbit, the two Flopsy Bunnies, Jeremy Fisher, Mrs. Tiggy-winkle, Mr. Tod, Benjamin Bunny, Mopsy Bunny, and a tiny Flopsy Bunny. They have been hand-painted using an Art Deco-era process called cold-painting, which used chemicals to firmly adhere the paint to the bronze surface. Like many popular children's authors today, Beatrix Potter was involved in complicated licensing deals allowing manufacturers to produce toys and collectibles ranging from plushes to porcelain items to bronze figurines like these. Within the Potter community, bronze figurines such as these are often called "Vienna bronzes," due to their place of origin. Most appear to have been manufactured in Austria by Franz Bergmann. However, some can be found manufactured by Fritz Bermann. Adding to the difficulty, other manufacturing firms may have simply produced these without authorization. According to Ian Dooley of the Cotsen Library (which acquired similar—but not identical—bronzes), the true origin of these miniature figurines has proven frustratingly difficult, if not impossible, to ascertain. These particular figurines are stored in an antique Australian biscuit tin for safe-keeping, further complicating any attempt to discern their origins.

Some wear to original paint. A rare and most desirable set of contemporary bronze figurines.