natter's talents as a gem-engraver were praised by goethe, and charles william king called him "one of the greatest of the modern practitioners of the art". his first productions were mainly seals with coats of arms. writing in 1754, he said that he was always willing to receive commissions to copy ancient gems, but stated that he never sold copies as originals; his productions were often signed. his usual signature on gems was nattep or natthp. he also often signs yδroς or yδroy, a translation of the german word "natter", a water-snake. georg kaspar nagler in his "künstler-lexikon", and heinrich bolzenthal, followed in edward hawkins's "medallic illustrations", gave natter's forenames as "johann lorenz"; natter on his gems and medals and on the title-pages of his publications used only the christian name "lorenz" (or laurent, laurentius, etc.).