The Hermann Noack bronze-casting foundry is a traditional, fourth generation family-run business, currently run by Hermann Noack IV. The foundry was established in Friedenau, Berlin in 1897 by Hermann Noack I with 13 assistants and its legacy has continued through the generations. Hermann Noack III, aged only 27, took over the leadership of the business from his father, Hermann Noack II, around 1958.

The Noack foundry prides itself on upholding an ancient tradition of bronze casting. German author Heinz Ohff commented in the introduction to a publication commemorating the 70th anniversary of the foundry: "between the artist's design in wax or plaster and the final execution, lies a craft process that requires its own skill and has its own tradition that dates back to the second millennium BC" [i]. 

The long-lasting relationship between Henry Moore and Noack III started in 1958, with the casting of Draped Reclining Woman (LH 431), and continued until Moore's death in 1986, resulting in around 1000 sculptures. Especially noteworthy was the casting and instalment of the Reclining Figure (LH 519) in the New York Lincoln Center in 1965 - the biggest ever sculpture cast in the Noack foundry and the whole of Berlin at that time.

The foundry is renowned for its distinctive patina, unique chasing of the bronze surface, and manufacture of large-scale sculptures, and has worked with artists such as Rudolf Belling, Joseph Beuys and Käthe Kollwitz. Hermann Noack III remembers working with Moore: "we created what others did not - we began to polish certain areas of the bronze and bestowed it with the distinctive golden shimmer of the patina. Moore got inspired by this - it makes me proud to say that we inspired such a great man with our tradition."

Hermann Noack III devoted 78 years of his life to the foundry. The unique experience of working with Henry Moore allowed him to expand the foundry on an international level and develop a close friendship with the artist. "We worked so much together. Henry Moore created beautiful sculptures and we were exhilarated to be able to cast them, especially since Henry Moore's sculptures increased in size over the years. We were honoured to be able to represent him through the cast. He was a very kind and friendly man. We always drank whiskey together. There always had to be a bottle of whiskey present when he visited" [ii].

The friendship between the artist and Noack was mutual. Moore praised the foundry's technical finesse: "I let the Noack foundry do most of my work, because Hermann Noack is the best bronze caster I know, in my opinion. In addition to that, the Noack foundry is reliable in every aspect - from meeting the delivery date to the quality of work" [iii].

In 2009, the Noack foundry, which is currently run by Hermann Noack IV, moved location to Berlin Charlottenburg. It has also broadened into a cultural centre for art to include the foundry, a gallery, and artists’ studios.

Lisa Noack 2022

[i] 0005390: Hermann Noack 1897-1967: 70 Jahre.

[ii] 2022 interview between Lisa Noack and Hermann Noack III.

[iii] 0005390: Hermann Noack 1897-1967: 70 Jahre.