Josef Lorenzl
Standing Girl with Hands in Pockets
Josef Lorenzl was an Austrian sculptor and ceramicist of the Art Deco period, the same era as Ferdinand Preiss (1882–1943) and Demetre Chiparus (1886–1947). While at the Vienna Arsenal, Lorenzl produced many bronze and chryselephantine sculptures, the latter using both bronze and ivory, and captivated by the female form he became famed for his shapely dancing girls with long, elegant legs and closed eyes. These pieces of his were signed in various ways including "Enzl", "Lor", "R. Lor", "Renz","Renzl", or LRENZL. Occasionally the name "Crejo" appears on his pieces, Crejo having been a painter and one of Lorenzl's friends, and who sometimes applied colour to the pieces. These joint works are sought-after items. The large majority of Lorenzl's figurines were attached to Brazilian green onyx plinths.