Torolf Prytz (1858 – 1938) Norwegian Architect & Designer

Thorolf Prytz featured image
Thorolf Prytz featured image

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

Norwegian Designers

  • Gerhard Munthe (1855-1929) Norwegian textile, furniture, Interior Designer

    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 →

  • Peter Opsvik (b.1939), Norwegian furniture designer

    Peter Opsvik (b.1939), Norwegian furniture designer

    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 →

  • Konrad Galaaen (1923 – 2004) Norwegian Ceramicist

    Konrad Galaaen (1923 – 2004) Norwegian Ceramicist

    Konrad Galaaen (1923 – 2004) was a Norwegian ceramist and designer. He was educated at the Statens Hndverks- og Kunstindustriskole in Oslo and won first prize in a competition. He worked as a designer at Porsgrunds Porselnsfabrik for 43 years and developed the design classic Spire, which has been relaunched and redesigned. Porsgrund owes its…

  • Jacob Prytz (1886 – 1962) Norwegian metalworker and designer

    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 →

  • A Brief Overview of Carl Cristian Fjeringstad: Life and Legacy

    A Brief Overview of Carl Cristian Fjeringstad: Life and Legacy

    Carl Christian Fjerdingstad was a Norwegian designer born in Kristiansand and active in Blaricum (Norway), the Netherlands, and Paris. Carl Christian Fjerdingstad worked as a designer for Orfèvrerie Christofle in Paris and a silversmith for Henry van de Velde. His work combined French designs with the hammered surfaces and round shapes of Danish silverware.Read More…

  • Theodor Kittelsen (1857 – 1914) Norwegian Ceramicist and Book Illustrator

    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…

  • Marius Hammer (1847 – 1927) Norwegian silversmith

    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 →

  • Jean Heiberg (1884 – 1976) – Bakelite Telephone

    Jean Heiberg (1884 – 1976) – Bakelite Telephone

    Norwegian painter Jean Heiberg (1884–1976), who later studied with Matisse in Paris, is credited with designing the first “modern” telephone—certainly the one that is most well-known to consumers.Read More →

  • Hermann Bongard Norwegian graphic & glassware designer

    Hermann Bongard Norwegian graphic & glassware designer

    Hermann Bongard Norwegian graphic designer and glassware designer. He studied lithography and commercial design. Read MoreRead More →

  • Kari Christensen (1938 – 1997) Norwegian Ceramicist

    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 Designer

    Benny Anette Motzfeldt (1909-1995) Norwegian Designer

    Benny Anette Motzfeldt (1909-1995) was a celebrated Norwegian graphic artist, glass designer, and sculptor, known for her glass work showcased globally. She held various positions as an art director and her contributions earned her prestigious awards.Read More →

  • Alf Sture (1915 – 2000) One of the Greats of Norwegian Furniture

    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) 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…

  • Torolf Prytz (1858 – 1938) Norwegian Architect & Designer

    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…

  • Nora Gulbrandsen (1894 – 1978) Norwegian Designer

    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: A Maestro of Norwegian Glass Design

    Willy Johansson: A Maestro of Norwegian Glass Design

    Born in 1921, Willy Johansson was a transformative figure in the world of glassware design. Known for his white rim on clear or smoked glassware, he led the design team at Hadeland Glassworks, garnering global recognition and multiple awards. His designs were versatile, ranging from mass-produced wares to unique pieces, deeply influenced by 1930s cultural…

  • Hannah Ryggen (1894 – 1970) Swedish textile designer

    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 →

  • Rethinking Sitting by Peter Opsvik (Paperback)

    Rethinking Sitting by Peter Opsvik (Paperback)

    Humans have lived physically active lives for millions of years. On the other hand, industrialisation has bred passivity and aRead More →

  • Ida Ekblad Norwegian genre crossing artist

    Ida Ekblad Norwegian genre crossing artist

    Ida Ekblad’s practise incorporates painting and sculpture but also poetry, filmmaking and performance. The Norwegian artist has collaborated with multipleRead More →

❤️ Receive our newsletter

Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.