Jewellery, Watches and Objects of Vertu

An Austrian cold painted bronze bulldog car mascot, by Carl Kauba, seated, with red collar and goggles, mounted to a modern wooden base, with battery pack and switch mechanism, illuminating the eyes, height 9cm. £500-£700

Carl Kauba (1865-1922) was an Austrian sculptor, born in Vienna.. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna under Professor Laufenberg. In 1886 he went to Paris for further study and is then thought to have travelled to the United States. He became fascinated by Native American lifestyle and culture, this interest being widely reflected in his work, which included fine bronze representations of Native American Indians, cavalrymen, cowboys and roughriders. Produced in Austria, his sculptures were known for their intricate detail and realism, and were excellent examples of Viennese bronzes made at the turn of the century. Most of his works were cast for the American market, and were imported to the United States between the years of 1895 - 1912. They were widely advertised and sold by Latendorfer in New York during the 1950s.