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 Jacob Tostrup. From 1917 to 1918, he was the Norwegian Minister of Industrial Provisioning; 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 was 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. After two years of study, he was advanced from head designer to co-owner in 1884. 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 from 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
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