Josef Lorenzl was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1892. He was an Austrian sculptor and ceramist whose artistic career began working in a foundry at the Vienna Arsenal, where he gained a deep understanding of bronze casting techniques.
Lorenzl's figures, with their clean lines and subtle geometric forms, perfectly capture the spirit of Art Deco.
He mastered the chryselephantine technique, which combined bronze and ivory to create exquisite sculptures. Many of his bronze pieces were mounted on plinths of Brazilian green onyx.
A significant portion of his work was done in ceramics. He collaborated closely with the renowned Austrian manufacturer Goldscheider between 1920 and 1930.
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts has a Lorenzl sculpture in its collection titled "State of a Girl" (ca. 1925), made from bronze, ivory, and onyx.
