Plaque c. 1941

Edmond Lorts created this cast-iron plaque, sometime in the 20th century. The design is clearly inspired by classical motifs: a Green Man figure, wreathed in foliage, often associated with nature and rebirth. But it is made with a modern process. Mass-produced ironwork like this was common on buildings and gates. Notice the fine detail Lorts was able to achieve in the casting process. The texture is rough, yet the leaf edges are crisp, and the face is subtly modeled. This contrast speaks to the material’s dual nature: strong yet capable of capturing intricate forms. It’s fascinating how Lorts has taken a traditional symbol and translated it into an industrial material, creating a fusion of nature and the machine. Does this plaque celebrate the beauty of nature or, perhaps, subtly critique industrialization's impact? Either way, Lorts makes us consider the relationship between the hand, the machine, and the enduring power of nature-inspired design.