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Mirror frame, limewood, high relief carving, gold leaf gilded, shiny finish, 110 cm x 105 cm. Foto/Photo: Žiga Mihelčič.

SEE MAKS BERGANT'S

WORKS IN PERSON

Maks Bergant’s most significant and largest works were created between 1960 and 1990. It’s almost beyond comprehension how the master managed to carve and gild such a vast number of frames for paintings and mirrors, candlesticks and chandeliers, sculpt countless angelic heads, and restore numerous old carvings. While these masterpieces can be found across the former Yugoslavia, Europe, and the United States, most are in Slovenian churches and family homes. 

 

Bergant’s greatest works continue to be, as the artist often put it, 'permanently exhibited' in churches, their creator's undeserved anonymity remaining unnoticed.

May this be a starting point for further studies of the master carver’s work, and a compliment to a life dedicated to beauty. ​

 
 
 

IMG_6989o-pngc.pngMirror frame, limewood, high relief carving, gold leaf gilded, shiny finish, 110 cm x 105 cm. Foto/Photo: Ž

SELECTED LOCATIONS

 
 
 

BASILICA OF ST. MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS

BREZJE, SLOVENIA

His best-known production is the aura of golden flames that frames the painting of Our Lady of Brezje.

Bergant's largest altar frame, Basilica of St. Mary Help of Christians, Brezje. Limewood, high relief carving, gold leaf gilded, shiny finish, depth of relief 50–70 cm. Artist: Maks Bergant. The frame features Bergant's recognizable stylized acanthus leaves.

CHURCH OF ST. BENEDICT

STRANJE, SLOVENIA

Bergant's first collaboration with Jože Plečnik, which turned into
a genuine friendship.

High altar and altar frame, Church of St. Benedict, Stranje. Bergant's sculptures in ivory coloured oval medallions, limewood, carved ornament, gold leaf gilded, matte finish, 1949. Artist: Maks Bergant.

CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

KAMNIK, ŠUTNA, SLOVENIA

Another collaboration with Plečnik where Bergant solved a technical problem with an elegant solution.

Braid altar frame, Church of the Immaculate Conception, Kamnik, Šutna. Each frame side carved from one block of limewood, gold leaf gilded, shiny finish, 1951.

ST. NICOLAS CATHEDRAL

LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA

Altar frame and bishop's throne with angels and ornaments.

Bishop's throne with angels and ornaments, Cathedral of St. Nicholas, Ljubljana Limewood, gold leaf gilded, matte finish. Artist: Maks Bergant.

CHURCH OF THE ANNUNCIATION

LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA

Altar frames for the Franciscan Church of the Annunciation.

Altar frames, Franciscan Church of the Annunciation, Ljubljana, limewood, high relief carving, gold leaf gilded, shiny finish, depth of relief 30–40 cm, 1970s. It is entirely made out of Bergant's recognizable stylized acanthus leaves.

CHURCH OF ST. ANTHONY OF PADOVA

LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA

Altar frame and monstrance bases.

Closeup of acanthus leaves. Altar frame, Church of St. Anthony of Padova,Ljubljana, limewood, high relief carving, gold leafgilded, shiny finish, depth of relief 15–25 cm. Artist: Maks Bergant. The frame itself is vertically recantuglar, and from the bottoms of its sides Bergant's recognizable acanthus leaves rise and form a circle "aura" around the frame, which "floats" around the rectangle.

CHURCH OF ST. JAMES

ŠKOFJA LOKA, SLOVENIA

One of Maks Bergant's many gilded altar frames.

Altar frame, Church of St. James, Škofja Loka. Limewood, high relief carving, gold leaf gilded, shiny finish, depth of relief 30–50 cm, 1965. Artist: Maks Bergant. The frame features Bergant's recognizable stylized acanthus leaves.

CHURCH OF ST. NICHOLAS

ŽALEC, SLOVENIA

One of Bergant's large altar frames and a candlestick.

Altar frame and frame detail, Church of St. Nicholas, Žalec, limewood, high relief carving, gold leaf gilded, shiny finish, depth of relief 20–40 cm. It is entirely made out of Bergant's recognizable stylized acanthus leaves.

ST. PETER'S CHURCH

KOMENDA, SLOVENIA

Altar table, ambon, carvings near the crypt, and frames for the Passion of the Christ.

Altar table, St. Peter's Church, Komenda. Limewood, high relief carving, gold leaf gilded, shiny finish, early 1980s. The frame is entirely made out of Bergant's recognizable stylized acanthus leaves, arranged in a symmetrical manner.

CHURCH OF ST. MARY'S AND JOSEPH'S ENGAGEMENT

KAMNIK, ŽALE, SLOVENIA

Altar table with carved ornaments and a restored old choir rail.

Closeup, Altar table with carved ornaments, Church of St. Mary's and Joseph's Engagement, Kamnik, Žale. Limewood, high relief carving, gold leaf gilded, shiny finish, depth of relief 10–25 cm. The frame is entirely made out of Bergant's recognizable stylized acanthus leaves, arranged in a symmetrical manner.

BASILICA OF ST. MARY MOTHER OF MERCY

MARIBOR, SLOVENIA

Monstrance base, candlesticks and a frame.

Frame, Basilica of St. Mary Mother of Mercy, Maribor. Photo: Žiga Mihelčič.

FRANCISCAN CHURCH OF ST. JAMES, KAMNIK

Monstrance base and sanctuary lamp.

Monstrance base, Franciscan Church of St. James, Kamnik, limewood, high relief carving, gold leaf gilded, shiny finish, depth of relief 30–40 cm.

ST. PETER'S CHURCH

BELGRADE, SERBIA

Altar frame and candlestick.

Altar frame, St. Peter's Church, Belgrade, limewood, high relief carving, gold leaf gilded, matte finish, depth of relief 20–30 cm, 1960–1961. The frame is entirely made out of Bergant's recognizable stylized acanthus leaves.

MONASTERY LOVRET

SPLIT, CROATIA

One of his first works - 14 frames for the Passion of the Christ for the monastery chapel. Allegedly the frames have been moved to a different location in Split.

PUNAT, KRK, CROATIA

Statue of St. Mary

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