Definition:Cold-Painted Bronze

Cold-Painted Bronze is a technique most famously associated with Vienna, Austria (notably the Bergmann foundry). Unlike traditional bronze, these pieces were cast in “white metal” or bronze and then painted with several layers of “cold” (non-fired) enamel paint. This allowed for incredible lifelike colors on tiny, detailed sculptures. Vintage Vienna Bronzes of dogs are often tiny—sometimes less than an inch—but feature every hair and color of a dog’s coat. They are “luxury” miniatures and are highly prized for their craftsmanship and historical value.