Carl Kauba

CARL KAUBA (Vienna, 1865–1922).
“Peace,” model circa 1895.
Polychrome bronze on a stone base.
Signed “C. Kauba” on the base.
In good overall condition. It has a patina, small surface marks, and localized wear on the polychrome, consistent with its age. Stone base with slight signs of wear.
Measurements: 76 × 30 × 24 cm.

“Peace” belongs to one of Carl Kauba’s most characteristic series, dedicated to the imagery of the American West. The figure depicts a standing Native American chief, adorned with a large feather headdress and a ceremonial cloak, holding a peace pipe and a feather-adorned staff. The composition’s pronounced verticality and the richness of the accessories lend the piece a striking sculptural presence.

The meticulous modeling of the face, clothing, fringes, and plumage is combined with a polychromatic palette of ochres, blues, reds, and whites that distinguishes each element and reinforces the decorative character of the whole. This preference for richly worked surfaces and chromatic hallmarks is particularly characteristic of late 19th-century Viennese bronzes. The model, documented around 1895 and also known in connection with the composition *War*, reflects the romantic and narrative vision of the West that became widely popular in Europe during this period.

Carl Kauba trained in Vienna under Karl Waschmann and Stefan Schwartz and was particularly noted for his animal bronzes and his depictions of the American West. His work is characterized by highly detailed modeling and the use of patinas and polychromy to distinguish between materials and textures. Some of his works were cast by leading Viennese foundries, including that of Franz Xaver Bergmann. His work is represented in collections such as that of the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington.