Josef Lorenzl

JOSEF LORENZL (Vienna, Austria, 1892-1950).
"Young woman with apron".
Patinated bronze.
Portoro marble pedestal.
Measurements: 38 x 9 x 9 x 9 cm.

The sculptor Josef Lorenzl stood out especially with the theme of the feminine representations: attractive damsels with short skirts that show their beautiful turned legs, dancers and maidens of all condition. In this bronze sculpture he demonstrates his ability to capture the sensuality captured in a simple gesture.

Josef Lorenzl was an Austrian sculptor and ceramist known and valued for his Art Deco works, placed, according to some experts, at the level of Ferdinand Preiss and Demetre Chiparus. Little is known about his early career: it seems that he started working in a foundry in the Vienna Arsenal, where he already showed great skills in bronze casting. He created numerous small sculptures using bronze and ivory (chrysoelephantines or chryselephantines), and others only in bronze. It was common that, with the help of his friend the painter Crejo, his works had polychrome, applied by him, who sometimes also signed the works he colored. Lorenzl also excelled as a ceramist: above all, his works for Goldscheider, made in a studio at the company's headquarters, which even during his lifetime were highly sought after and appreciated. He also produced several works for the Viennese porcelain factories Porzellanfabrik Hertwig & Co. and Keramos Porcelain. His works are highly valued and are currently in important private collections and in prominent institutions such as the Museum of Art Deco in Moscow (Russia), the Museum of Art Nouveau and Art Deco Casa Lis in Salamanca (Spain), the Wien Museum in Vienna, the Arts and Crafts Museum in Zagreb (Croatia), etc.