Johan Törnström

Johannes "Johan" Törnström (17 April 1743 – 20 February 1828) was admiralty sculptor to the Swedish Navy at the Karlskrona naval base. He carved a number of figureheads for naval vessels, which are now housed at the Marinmuseum.

Early years Törnström was born in Ekeby, Västmanland. The son of a farmer, Törnström apprenticed in Stockholm with the wood sculptor G. J. Fast, and with the Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Masreliez (or Maserliez) (1753–1801). While Masreliez trained Törnström in wood carving and cabinet making, he never received formal training at the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts.

Career Törnström worked for a time as a furniture carver; he created works for the Stockholm Royal Palace until 1781; he created carvings for ships. Most likely, Törnström became acquainted with af Chapman during this time. he worked at the shipyard's Sculptor's Workshop, which was originally built in the 1760, but whose masque crowning was redesigned by Törnström in a Neoclassical architectural style, meant to represent the classical Greek goddess of drama. He created most of the figureheads for 19 frigates (female depictions) and 15 ships of the line (male depictions) during his years at the Karlskrona shipyard. The oak carvings depicted Neoclassical figures, which could be more than in height and could take as much as 24 months to complete. and evoked antique ideals as patriotic works, his female figures were characterized as buxom, wearing diaphanous clothing. Several of his figureheads are part of the collection at the Marinmuseum on Stumholmen Island in Karlskrona, ten of which arrived in the 1960s.

When the Navy suspended shipbuilding in 1790, Törnström created works for churches to provide for his family of ten children. He died in 1828.

Törmström died in Karlskrona.

Gallery Some of Törnström's figureheads are on display at the Marinmuseum. They include Minerva, Fäderneslandet ("Fatherland"), Fröja, Camilla, Galatea, Försiktigheten ("Prudence"), Äran ("Honour"), Dristigheten, La Badine och Carl XIII.