John Prip, designer

John Prip came to RISD in 1962 as head of the Department of Jewelry and Light Metals. Trained as a silversmith in Denmark, he began teaching in 1948 at the School for American Craftsmen in Rochester. He was also a regular exhibitor at Shop One, an innovative retail outlet for contemporary crafts that he helped to establish in Rochester. Together with Tage Frid, head of the furniture design program at RISD, these Danish-trained craftsmen transformed their respective departments, set high standards for design and technique, and instructed a generation of artists who lead their fields today.

In addition to his legacy as a teacher, Prip is known for his work as Designer/Craftsman in Residence at Reed and Barton. During the 1960s, he produced a number of successful tableware patterns that brought distinction to the company and an affordable Danish Modem style to American dining rooms. Several patterns are still in production today. The onion shapes of this tea service grew out of forged silver prototypes that Prip had been working on for several years prior to their production.