History of the Lauchhammer Foundry

Over 275 years of tradition for your benefit

In 1725, the Baroness of Löwendal had an ironworks built in the vicinity of extensive bog iron ore deposits, the "Lauch-Hammer", named after the ponds there, with a charcoal blast furnace. However, the actual history of art casting began later, when Detlev Carl Graf von Einsiedel, an art-loving gentleman and owner of Lauchhammer, had casting models made from casts of antique sculptures from 1776 onwards. In 1784 the art founders in Lauchhammer succeeded in casting the world's first single-piece cast iron figure. From then on, contemporaries spoke of the remote Lauchhammer and its iron foundry as a

"place of artistic pilgrimage".

Between 1810 and 1841, Karl-Friedrich Schinkel, an architect and artist, spent his time in Berlin designing cast-iron furniture and utilitarian objects, which were later also produced by the Lauchhammer art foundry. It was also at this time that the first bell was cast, a surviving cast-iron bell, a replica of which still hangs on the administration building of the Lauchhammer works. At the beginning of the 19th century, Lauchhammer established itself as a bronze foundry and world-famous bronze sculptures were created that are still recognised today. Bronze casting in Lauchhammer was discontinued for the duration of the First World War. During the period of Nazi rule, the art foundry mostly produced National Socialist art, from large sculptures to plaques.

In 1993, the art foundry was reprivatised and bell production resumed one year later. To this day, the foundry continues production at its original site.

  • since 1997
    • A range of different historic door and window fittings made of brass, cast iron and other metals has been added to the range of services.
  • since 1994
    • Resumption of bell manufacturing.
  • 1993
    • The art foundry was separated and privatized from the re-established Lauchhammer AG.
  • 1945
    • The art castings from Lauchhammer from the first post-war period addressed the reassessment of National Socialism, such as the "Trümmerfrau" monument for Dresden or the "Widerstandskämpfer" monument by Fritz Cremer for Auschwitz and his famous Buchenwald group. Over the following years, he was again commissioned by municipalities and restored works of art.
  • 1933
    • During the period of Nazi rule 1933-1944, the art foundry mainly produced National Socialist art from large sculptures to plaques.
  • 1914
    • For the duration of the First World War, bronze casting production in Lauchhammer was discontinued..
  • 1884
    • New construction of the art foundry at the current location in Freifrau-von-Löwendal-Straße.
  • 1880
    • The pompous academy art of "Wilhelmism" prevailed in large-scale sculpture, especially in Prussia, and provided the Lauchhammer art foundry with numerous commissions.
  • 1868
    • Completion of the Luther memorial in Worms, which attracted worldwide attention and consolidated the reputation of the Lauchhammer art foundry as a bronze foundry even beyond national borders.
  • 1863-1868
    • Cast-iron pavilions on the Nile Island, at al-Gazîra Castle near Cairo.
  • 1838-1839
    • The first casting of a bronze statue is carried out in Lauchhammer.
  • 1834
    • First bell casting of a preserved cast iron bell, of which a replica still hangs on the administration building of the Lauchhammer works.
  • 1825
    • Historicism" with its grafted-on decorative elements of different styles becomes established in Germany and also influences art casting in Lauchhammer.
  • 1815
    • The onset of "Biedermeier" leads to cast sculpture in gilded bronze.
  • 1810-1841
    • During his time in Berlin, Karl-Friedrich Schinkel, architect and artist, was involved in the design of cast-iron furniture and utensils, which were later also manufactured by the Lauchhammer art foundry.
  • 1806
    • The Berlin jeweller Johann Conrad Geiss created the iron jewellery that was to become fashionable in Europe by 1840, starting from the Prussian iron foundries.
      This also marked the beginning of the golden age of iron art casting in classicism.
  • 1805
    • In Lauchhammer, the cast iron is melted in the cupola furnace, thus introducing cast iron production after the second melting.
  • 1784
    • The art founders in Lauchhammer succeed in casting the world's first single-piece cast iron figure.
      Now contemporaries speak of Lauchhammer, which is remote from traffic, as a "place of artistic pilgrimage".
  • 1781
    • To this end, he brought the Bohemian sculptor Wiskotschill from Dresden and soon his colleague Mattersberger from Tyrol, who were to develop a process for casting large figures in one piece.
  • 1776
    • The actual history of art casting began later, when Detlev Carl Graf von Einsiedel, an art-loving gentleman and owner of Lauchhammer, had casting models made from casts of antique sculptures from 1776 onwards.
  • 1725
    • In 1725, the Baroness of Löwendal built an ironworks, the "Lauch-Hammer", named after the local ponds, with a charcoal blast furnace near extensive deposits of bog iron.