Swedish Modern Red Enameled Cocktail Table by P. Törneman and David Rosén for Nordiska Kompaniet, 1960s

A rare and exceptional midcentury Swedish Modern coffee or cocktail table by Nordiska Kompaniet’s head designer David Rosén and artist Algot P.Törneman for Nordiska Kompaniet in Sweden.  

The artist Algot P.Törneman made the enameled top of abstract stormy design in reds and oranges. The table top is signed by P. Törneman, numbered 50/200 and dated 1968.  

The solid teak base is designed by Nordiska Kompaniet’s head designer David Rosén and manufactured at Nordiska Kompaniet’s workshops in Nyköping. Note how elegant the enamel top meets the teak base.  

This table is part of the Triva Dura limited edition series that was made as a collaboration between David Rosén and Algot P.Törneman. 

ABOUT THE ARTIST: Jarl Algot Gustav Törneman, signature P. Törneman, born September 1, 1909 in Vis parish, Älvsborg county, died May 5, 1993 in Stockholm, was a Swedish lawyer and enamel artist, and painter. 

 
Algot Törneman was the son of the well known painter Axel Törneman and Gudrun Høyer-Ellefsen. He studied at the Sorbonne, Stockholm and graduated in law in 1937 in Lund. There he was called P, which stood for “Pappa” (swedish for dad), because he started studying law as a father of two. He then worked for two decades as a lawyer and industrial manager before becoming the curator and artistic director of the Handicrafts in Stockholm 1960–1968 and was secretary of the Konstakademien 1967–1978. He was awarded the professor's name in art in 1977. 
 
Törneman belonged to the small pioneer group at the Gustavsberg porcelain factory that experimented with enamel painting after the Second World War. He mainly worked with sheet enamels that were produced in series as table surfaces for the Nordiska Kompaniet’s Triva-furnitures. He signed his art P.Törneman. He is represented at the National Museum in Stockholm.