Josef Lorenzl (1892-1950)
was an Austrian sculptor and ceramist of the Art Deco movement.
He was born on September 1, 1892 in Vienna and became later one of the most famous sculptors of the period of Art Deco. He must be mentioned together with other great Art Déco artists, like Ferdinand Preiss or Demetre Haralamb Chiparus.
About his life and his beginnings as an artist is little known today. The young sculptor worked in a foundry in "Vienna Arsenal", where he learned the art craft of bronze casting.
The life of Josef Lorenzl
At this foundry at Vienna Arsenal Lorenzl created many bronze statues and works made of two materials, named chryselephantine statues. Those statues are famous for combining different materials, like bronze and ivory, and the filigree paintings on the bronze part of the statues.
The most beloved motives of him were slim dancer in elegant poses with skinny long legs and closed eyes. Lorenzl always pictured elegant poses and signed his works with "Enzl" or "Lor".
Influences on his works
Besides this signature, the name "Crejo" is sometimes found on his sculptures. Crejo was a painter and a friend on Lorenzl and he sometimes colored some of the artworks Lorenzl created. Those figures made by Lorenzl and colored by Crejo are very exclusive collector items.
He was also a talented ceramicist. He created and produced several statues for the famous manufacture Goldscheider, who offered a studio on their companies ground to him. Like the chryselephantine figures, the ceramic artwork is an exclusive collector item too. Lorenzl was a master of creating very dynamic ceramics with fine lines and basic geometric shapes.
Lorenzl's artworks became the embodiment of decorative art. Also the best known sculpture of the manufacture Goldscheider, a sculpture of Niddy Impekoven was once created by him.
Besides working for Goldscheider, he also worked for the German company Hertwig, the company Keramos and another Vienna manufacture. On August 15, 1950 the famous artist Josef Lorenzl died in Vienna.