Torolf Prytz (1858 – 1938) was a Norwegian architect, goldsmith and politician for the Liberal Party. From 1890 to 1938, he led the goldsmith firm J. Tostrup of Oslo, which he inherited from his grandfather-in-law Jacob Tostrup. From 1917 to 1918, he was the Norwegian Minister of Industrial Provisioning, and from 1922 to 1930, he was the President of the Norwegian Red Cross.
Early Years
He was born in the Norwegian town of Alstahaug in the county of Nordland. When he was 12 years old, his family relocated to Kristiania (now Oslo). Prytz attended the Technical School of Kristiania. He worked as an assistant to architects Georg Andreas Bull and Henrik Thrap-Meyer after completing his schooling at the University of Hannover’s polytechnic college.
Biography
He began working with goldsmith Oluf Tostrup, the son of goldsmith Jacob Tostrup and co-owner of J. Tostrup. When Oluf Tostrup died in 1882, Prytz became formally associated with J. Tostrup. He was advanced from head designer to co-owner in 1884, after two years of study. Prytz purchased the entire company after Jacob Tostrup died in 1890, keeping the tradename. He was a creative filigree (ornamental work of fine (typically gold or silver) wire formed into delicate tracery.) designer who bolstered the company’s standing as one of Norway’s top goldsmith firms. In 1898, he was the driving force behind the opening of Tostrupgrden on Karl Johans gate, which was designed by Prytz, Waldemar Hansteen, and Christian Fürst and completed between 1893 and 1898.
Political Career
From 1900 to 1903, he was a deputy representative in the Norwegian Parliament, representing the constituency of Kristiania, Hnefoss og Kongsvinger, and from 1917 to 1918, he was Minister of Industrial Provisioning. He was the President of the Norwegian Red Cross from 1922 until 1930. From 1907 through 1935, Prytz also served on the boards of Den norske Husflidsforening, the National Institute of Technology, and the Norwegian Museum of Decorative Arts and Design. Den norske Husflidsforening, the National Institute of Technology, and the Norges Gullsmedforbund were all founded by him. From 1884 to 1934, he was a member of the boards of the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design, Den norske Husflidsforening, and the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry. From 1892 to 1900 and 1904 to 1928, he was a member of the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry.
Works
Sources
Byars, M., & Riley, T. (2004). The design encyclopedia. Laurence King Publishing.
Wikipedia contributors. (2021, August 18). Torolf Prytz. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 04:58, November 11, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Torolf_Prytz&oldid=1039478646
Additional Reading
Brantmark, N. (2017). The Scandinavian Home: Interiors inspired by light. Cico Books.
Englund, M., Schmidt, C., & Wood, A. (2017). Scandinavian modern. Ryland Peters & Small.
Ehmann, S. (2017). Scandinavian Design: Nordic Homes, interiors and design. Gestalten.
MacIsaac, H. S., & Bolander, L. (2010). Lars Bolander’s Scandinavian design. Vendome.
Martensen-Larsen, K., Brandt, K., & Frandsen, B. S. (2019). Nordic moods: A guide to succesful Interior Decoration. Lannoo.
Norrman, S., Englund, M., & Clifton-Mogg, C. (2021). Simply Scandinavian: Calm, comfortable and uncluttered homes. Ryland Peters & Small.
Uffelen, C. van. (2019). Nordic style warm & welcoming Scandinavian interiors. Braun Publishing.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Norwegian Designers
-
Gerhard Munthe (1855-1929) Norwegian textile, furniture, Interior Designer
Between 1877-82, he lived in Munich. As a pictorial artist, he brought about the break with historicism in Norway. Drawing on Norwegian folk art and poetry, he illustrated books and designed tapestries for firms including DNB (Det Norske Billedvaveri).Read More →
-
Theodor Kittelsen (1857 – 1914) Norwegian Ceramicist and Book Illustrator
In the early 1900s, he was a designer for Porsgrunds Porselaensfabrik, Porsgrunn. In 1882 Kittelsen was granted a state scholarship to study in Paris. In 1887 he returned to Norway for good. When back in Norway, he found nature to be a great inspiration. He spent the next two years in Lofoten, where he lived with his sister and brother-in-law at Skomvær Lighthouse. Kittelsen also started to write texts to his drawings there. Read More →
-
Kari Christensen (1938 – 1997) Norwegian Ceramicist
Christensen worked at Royal Copenhagen Porcelain factory; from 1966, worked in own workshop, Oslo; from c1966, taught, Statens Handverks -og Kunstindustriskale, Oslo, and was a professor there from c1986.Read More →
-
Benny Anette Motzfeldt (1909-1995) Norwegian graphic artist, designer
Motzfeldt is best known for her glass creations. Her work is on show at the National Museum of Art, Architecture, and Design in Oslo, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Kunstindustrimuseum in Copenhagen, the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm, and the Frauenau Glass Museum in Germany (donation Wolfgang Kermer). Read More →
-
Marius Hammer (1847 – 1927) Norwegian silversmith
Hammer was head of one of Norway’s largest silversmithies. He was best known for his plique-a-jour enamelled spoons popular with tourists and exported in large quantities. He produced the ‘Norwegian brilliant enamel work’ spoons offered in the 1896 and 1898 Christmas catalogues of Liberty, London. Read More →
-
Alf Sture (1915 – 2000) One of the Greats of Norwegian Furniture
Furniture, he said, should work as intended. Seating furniture must be adapted to anatomical requirements. Still, beyond this, they should in their form help to characterize an environment with security and warmth and often appeal to something familiar and dear.Read More →
-
Tias Eckhoff (1926 – 2016) Norwegian designer, metalworker, ceramicist
Tias Eckhoff (1926 – 2016) was a well-known industrial designer in Norway. His production was constrained, but many of his products have endured as timeless design classics. In addition to the design of RBM Ana, RBM Bella, and Low-back Bella, he was also responsible for the famous Maya cutlery and Glohane tableware, to name a few of the solid works that are well-established in Norwegian design history.Read More →
-
Torolf Prytz (1858 – 1938) Norwegian Architect & Designer
He began working with goldsmith Oluf Tostrup, the son of goldsmith Jacob Tostrup and co-owner of J. Tostrup. When Oluf Tostrup died in 1882, Prytz became formally associated with J. Tostrup. He was advanced from head designer to co-owner in 1884, after two years of study. Prytz purchased the entire company after Jacob Tostrup died in 1890, keeping the tradename. Read More →
-
Nora Gulbrandsen (1894 – 1978) Norwegian Designer
She was born to Aksel Julius Hanssen and Anna Sofie Lund in Kristiania (now Oslo), Norway. From 1917 until 1922, she was married to wholesaler Carl Ziegler Gulbrandsen (1892–1976). She married Otto Delphin Amundsen, an engineer and genealogist, in 1943.Read More →
-
Willy Johansson (1921- 1993) Norwegian Glass Designer
His father was at the Hadelands Glassverk, Jevnaker, where Johansson joined the glassmaking workshop in 1936. He was best known for the white rim on his clear or smoked glassware.Read More →
-
Hermann Bongard Norwegian graphic & glassware designer
Hermann Bongard Norwegian graphic designer and glassware designer. He studied lithography and commercial design. Read MoreRead More →
-
Hannah Ryggen (1894 – 1970) Swedish textile designer
Hannah Ryggen (1894 – 1970) was a textile designer and teacher from Sweden. She was born in Malmö and worked professionally in Norway.Read More →
-
Jacob Prytz (1886 – 1962) Norwegian metalworker and designer
Jacob Prytz (1886 – 1962) was a metalworker and designer from Norway. He was born and raised in Oslo, where he also worked.Read More →
-
Rethinking Sitting by Peter Opsvik (Paperback)
Humans have lived physically active lives for millions of years. On the other hand, industrialisationRead More →
-
Ida Ekblad Norwegian genre crossing artist
Ida Ekblad’s practise incorporates painting and sculpture but also poetry, filmmaking and performance. The NorwegianRead More →
-
Peter Opsvik Norwegian furniture designer – ergonomic chairs
Peter Opsvik is a Norwegian furniture designer. In the 1960s, studied ergonomics under Ulrich Burandt and in design schools in Bergen and Oslo. In the 1970s, in Britain and Volkwangschule filr Kunstgewerbe, Essen. 1965-70, he was a designer at the Tandberg Radio Factory.Read More →
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.