Grete Prytz Kittelsen
Encyclopedia
Grete Prytz Kittelsen (28 June 1917, Oslo
- 25 September 2010, Oslo
), was a Norwegian
goldsmith
, enamel
artist, and designer
. She is one of the most well-known Norwegians in the Scandinavian Design
movement, and has been referred to as the "Queen of Scandinavian Design".
to Ingerid Juel and Jakob Tostrup Prytz, who was a goldsmith, and rector
of the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry
. Prytz' and Juel's residence was often home to students and foreign lecturers of the academy, among them Alvar Aalto
. After receiving examen artium
in 1935, Kittelsen began studying goldsmith
ing at the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry. She received her diploma in 1941, after which she worked for J Tostrup, a goldsmithing firm run by the Tostrup family for four generations. In April 1945 she married Arne Korsmo
, architect and professor at the Norwegian Institute of Technology
. They divorced after 15 years.
and plastic, sometimes collaborating with her husband, Arne Korsmo. Kittelsen pioneered the use of large-scale manufacturing methods utilized by later industrial design
ers. As recipient of a Fulbright grant
, Kittelsen lived in the United States
in 1949 and 1950, where she studied at the IIT Institute of Design
.
As one of the leading artists of the Scandinavian Design
movement, Kittelsen received several awards and honors in the 1950s, including the Lunning Prize
in 1952, and the 1954 Grand Prix at the Triennale
in Milan
for her enamel collection. From 1954 to 57 she participated in the "Design in Scandinavia" exhibition, shown in several places in the United States
and Canada
. Near the end of the 50s, her products, manufactured by Hadeland Glassverk
and Cathrineholm, were commonly found in Norwegian homes. "Sensasjonskasserollen" (lit. The sensation casserole) was particularly successful, with 150,000 units sold in 1964. Her designs were often inspired by American art, characterized by clear, plain colors and simple shapes. Kittelsen also designed informal, inexpensive jewellery made from silver and vitreous enamel.
Kittelsen was made a Knight, First Class, of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1986. In 2008 she was honored with a large exhibition in the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, showcasing 360 of her works, accompanied by a book, Grete Prytz Kittelsen: Emalje og design, published by Gyldendal
.
Grete Prytz Kittelsen died at age 93 in Oslo 25 September 2010.
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
- 25 September 2010, Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
), was a Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
goldsmith
Goldsmith
A goldsmith is a metalworker who specializes in working with gold and other precious metals. Since ancient times the techniques of a goldsmith have evolved very little in order to produce items of jewelry of quality standards. In modern times actual goldsmiths are rare...
, enamel
Vitreous enamel
Vitreous enamel, also porcelain enamel in U.S. English, is a material made by fusing powdered glass to a substrate by firing, usually between 750 and 850 °C...
artist, and designer
Designer
A designer is a person who designs. More formally, a designer is an agent that "specifies the structural properties of a design object". In practice, anyone who creates tangible or intangible objects, such as consumer products, processes, laws, games and graphics, is referred to as a...
. She is one of the most well-known Norwegians in the Scandinavian Design
Scandinavian Design
Scandinavian design emerged in the 1950s in the three Scandinavian countries , as well as Finland. It is a design movement characterized by simple designs, minimalism, functionality, and low-cost mass production....
movement, and has been referred to as the "Queen of Scandinavian Design".
Early life
Kittelsen was born in 1917 in KristianiaOslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
to Ingerid Juel and Jakob Tostrup Prytz, who was a goldsmith, and rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry
Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry
The Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry was established in 1818.In 1996 the National Academy of Craft and Art Industry became part of Oslo National Academy of the Arts .-Noted alumni:-External links:*...
. Prytz' and Juel's residence was often home to students and foreign lecturers of the academy, among them Alvar Aalto
Alvar Aalto
Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto was a Finnish architect and designer. His work includes architecture, furniture, textiles and glassware...
. After receiving examen artium
Examen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
in 1935, Kittelsen began studying goldsmith
Goldsmith
A goldsmith is a metalworker who specializes in working with gold and other precious metals. Since ancient times the techniques of a goldsmith have evolved very little in order to produce items of jewelry of quality standards. In modern times actual goldsmiths are rare...
ing at the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry. She received her diploma in 1941, after which she worked for J Tostrup, a goldsmithing firm run by the Tostrup family for four generations. In April 1945 she married Arne Korsmo
Arne Korsmo
Arne Korsmo was a leading architect in Norway and a propagator of the international architectural style.-Biography:...
, architect and professor at the Norwegian Institute of Technology
Norwegian Institute of Technology
The Norwegian Institute of Technology, known by its Norwegian abbrevation NTH was a science institute in Trondheim, Norway. It was established in 1910, and existed as an independent technical university for 85 years, after which it was merged into the University of Trondheim as an independent...
. They divorced after 15 years.
Post-war years
Kittelsen designed numerous works of silver, vitreous enamelVitreous enamel
Vitreous enamel, also porcelain enamel in U.S. English, is a material made by fusing powdered glass to a substrate by firing, usually between 750 and 850 °C...
and plastic, sometimes collaborating with her husband, Arne Korsmo. Kittelsen pioneered the use of large-scale manufacturing methods utilized by later industrial design
Industrial design
Industrial design is the use of a combination of applied art and applied science to improve the aesthetics, ergonomics, and usability of a product, but it may also be used to improve the product's marketability and production...
ers. As recipient of a Fulbright grant
Fulbright Program
The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright-Hays Program, is a program of competitive, merit-based grants for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists, founded by United States Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. Under the...
, Kittelsen lived in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1949 and 1950, where she studied at the IIT Institute of Design
IIT Institute of Design
Institute of Design at Illinois Institute of Technology , originally founded as the New Bauhaus, is a graduate school teaching systemic, human-centered design.- History :...
.
As one of the leading artists of the Scandinavian Design
Scandinavian Design
Scandinavian design emerged in the 1950s in the three Scandinavian countries , as well as Finland. It is a design movement characterized by simple designs, minimalism, functionality, and low-cost mass production....
movement, Kittelsen received several awards and honors in the 1950s, including the Lunning Prize
Lunning Prize
The Lunning Prize was instituted by Frederik Lunning, owner of the New York agency for Georg Jensen. The prize was awarded to eminent Scandinavian designers, two each year, from 1951 to 1970...
in 1952, and the 1954 Grand Prix at the Triennale
Triennale
La Triennale di Milano is a design museum and events venue in Milan, Italy, located inside the Palace of Art building, part of Parco Sempione, the park grounds adjacent to Castello Sforzesco. It hosts exhibitions and events which highlight contemporary Italian design, urban planning, architecture,...
in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
for her enamel collection. From 1954 to 57 she participated in the "Design in Scandinavia" exhibition, shown in several places in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Near the end of the 50s, her products, manufactured by Hadeland Glassverk
Hadeland Glassverk
Hadeland Glassverk is situated in Jevnaker, Oppland 40 km north of Oslo, at the southern tip of lake Randsfjorden.The glass works was founded in 1762 on land belonging to the Mo estate. Production started in 1765. At the time Norway did not have the necessary skilled craftsmen, and these were...
and Cathrineholm, were commonly found in Norwegian homes. "Sensasjonskasserollen" (lit. The sensation casserole) was particularly successful, with 150,000 units sold in 1964. Her designs were often inspired by American art, characterized by clear, plain colors and simple shapes. Kittelsen also designed informal, inexpensive jewellery made from silver and vitreous enamel.
Kittelsen was made a Knight, First Class, of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1986. In 2008 she was honored with a large exhibition in the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, showcasing 360 of her works, accompanied by a book, Grete Prytz Kittelsen: Emalje og design, published by Gyldendal
Gyldendal Norsk Forlag
Gyldendal Norsk Forlag, commonly referred to as Gyldendal, is one of the largest Norwegian publishing houses .-Gyldendal Norsk Forlag AS:Gyldendal Norsk Forlag AS was founded in 1925...
.
Grete Prytz Kittelsen died at age 93 in Oslo 25 September 2010.