Kunstgießerei Lenz

Kunstgießerei Lenz is a German art foundry based in Nuremberg, with a history dating back to 1829. It was founded by Jacob Daniel Burgschmiet, who established a foundry in the Rotschmiedsgasse and later moved it to the Seilergasse, renamed Burgschmietstraße in 1872. The foundry gained early fame through the commission for the Albrecht Dürer monument by King Ludwig I, which still stands in Nuremberg's old town. Over its nearly two-century history, the workshop has produced numerous monuments, sculptures, and epitaphs that shape the historic cityscape of Nuremberg and can be found in many other places in Germany and abroad, including Prague, Stockholm, and Chicago. The company has been family-run for much of its existence. After Burgschmiet, the business passed to his son-in-law Christoph Albrecht Lenz and subsequent generations of the Lenz family. In 1957, Franz Jahn began working at the foundry, became a partner in 1975, and owner in 1988. Since 2012, his daughter Sabine Jahn has led the operation. Today, Kunstgießerei Lenz continues to offer a wide range of products and services, including bronze casting using the lost-wax process, sand casting, replicas of historical works, epitaphs, grave decorations, and inscribed plaques. The foundry also assists clients without a model by connecting them with sculptors. Its headquarters remain in the heart of Nuremberg, where it has been located for over 150 years. The foundry's works include prominent monuments such as the Beethoven statue in Bonn, the Leibniz monument in Leipzig, the Victoria statue on the Nuremberg war memorial, and the Kaiser Wilhelm I equestrian statue in Nuremberg. Its international reach is evidenced by deliveries to Prague, Stockholm, and Chicago. The company is known for its craftsmanship and contribution to public art and memorial culture.

The Kunstgießerei Lenz was founded in 1829 by Jacob Daniel Burgschmiet in the Rotschmiedsgasse in Nuremberg. In 1850, the foundry moved to the Seilergasse, which was renamed Burgschmietstraße in 1872 in honor of its founder. The company has remained at this location in the heart of Nuremberg for over 150 years. The foundry's early success was propelled by a commission from King Ludwig I for the Albrecht Dürer monument, which was unveiled in 1840 and still stands in Nuremberg's old town. This prestigious project established the foundry's reputation beyond the region. After Burgschmiet's death in 1858, the business passed to his son-in-law Christoph Albrecht Lenz, who had married Burgschmiet's daughter Dorothea. The Lenz family continued to operate the foundry for generations: Ernst Lenz (1894–1906), Christoph Lenz (1906–1949), and Heinrich Lenz (1949–1987). In 1957, Franz Jahn began working at the foundry. He became a partner in 1975 and sole owner in 1988. Under his leadership, the foundry continued to produce art and monuments. After Franz Jahn's death in 2012, his daughter Sabine Jahn took over the management. Throughout its history, the foundry has created numerous significant works, including the Beethoven statue in Bonn (1845), the Leibniz monument in Leipzig (1883), the Victoria statue on the Nuremberg war memorial (1876), the Minnesängerbrunnen (1905), and the Kaiser Wilhelm I equestrian statue in Nuremberg (1905). Its works are also found internationally, with deliveries to Prague, Stockholm, and Chicago. The foundry has been instrumental in shaping the historic cityscape of Nuremberg and has contributed to public art and memorial culture in Germany and beyond. Today, it continues to operate as a private company, offering bronze casting, replicas, and grave art.

• 2012

  Sabine Jahn takes over management after Franz Jahn's death.

• 1988

  Franz Jahn becomes sole owner.

• 1975

  Franz Jahn becomes partner.

• 1957

  Franz Jahn begins working at the foundry.

• 1949

  Heinrich Lenz becomes owner.

• 1906

  Christoph Lenz becomes owner.

• 1905

  Minnesängerbrunnen and Kaiser Wilhelm I equestrian statue in Nuremberg unveiled.

• 1894

  Ernst Lenz becomes owner.

• 1883

  Leibniz monument in Leipzig completed.

• 1876

  Victoria statue on Nuremberg war memorial unveiled.

• 1872

  Seilergasse renamed Burgschmietstraße.

• 1858

  Christoph Albrecht Lenz takes over the foundry.

• 1850

  Foundry moves to Seilergasse (later Burgschmietstraße).

• 1845

  Beethoven statue in Bonn completed.

• 1840

  Albrecht Dürer monument unveiled in Nuremberg.

• 1829

  Jacob Daniel Burgschmiet founds the foundry in Nuremberg's Rotschmiedsgasse.

• 1829

  Commission for the Albrecht Dürer monument by King Ludwig I.

Historic art foundry specializing in traditional bronze casting, monument restoration, and custom grave art, with a heritage of over 175 years.

• 1840

  Albrecht Dürer monument

• 1845

  Beethoven statue

• 1871

  Theodor Körner statue

• 1876

  Victoria statue on war memorial

• 1883

  Leibniz monument

• 1905

  Minnesängerbrunnen

• 1905

  Kaiser Wilhelm I equestrian statue

1. 1Official websitekunstgiesserei-lenz.de
2. 2Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
3. 3Wikidatawikidata.org