An enchanting early 20th Century
Art Deco cold painted bronze figure of a dancer in an energetic pose wearing an attractive dress hand painted with a floral decoration, exhibiting excellent colours and very fine surface detail, raised on a Brazilian green onyx base and signed
Lorenzl & Crejo
Book Ref Art Deco and Other Figures by Bryan Catley
Josef Lorenzl: When looking to the designs of the Art Deco period one talented sculptor and ceramist that cannot be ignored is Josef Lorenzl. A master designer, his bronze statuettes and ceramic figural work epitomise the era perfectly. As with Preiss, Chiparus and Colinet the other great sculptors from this period, Lorenzl was inspired by the female form and the new found freedom that women enjoyed, which he executed beautifully both in his bronze and ceramic designs.
Although very little is known about Lorenzl’s early life, he was born in Austria in 1892 and became one of the most talented sculptors of the Art Deco Period. He started by working for a bronze foundry in Vienna Arsenal where he produced stunning Art Deco bronze statuettes. The majority of his works in bronze and chryselephantine were of singular slim female nudes with long legs which conveyed elegance. His preference was for dancing poses which were not only evident in his singular statuettes but also in those attached to marble clocks, lamp bases and bookends.
Lorenzl's career flourished during the 1920s and 1930s, in which time his sculptures captured the spirit of the Jazz Age, characterized by dynamic and graceful figures. Working primarily with bronze and chryselephantine, his pieces showcase intricate detail and master craftsmanship. He would sign his work in various ways sometimes abbreviating his name to ” R Lor”, “Lor” or “Renz” but on some of the statuettes you will find an additional signature by Crejo, a talented painter who worked alongside Lorenzl, Crejo would paint attractive floral decoration onto the statuettes and these figures bear both Lorenzl and Crejo's signatures. These statuettes are more desirable and command a higher value as a result.
Lorenzl is considered amongst the most important artists of the Art Deco period and his distinctive and quite stunning Art Deco figurines are highly sought after by collectors. A celebrated sculptor with an eye for design Lorenzl epitomised the Art Deco era perfectly making him one of the most celebrated and iconic designers of the 20th Century.
For a good selection of the artist’s works please see our link at:
Josef Lorenzl
