Vivianna Torun Bulow-Hube, know as Torun was born on December 4, 1927 in Malmo, Sweden. Her father was director of town planning in Malmo and her mother was a sculptor. Torun was the youngest of four children. All four children pursued artistic careers but it was Torun who became the most famous, as the first woman silversmith in the world to gain international recognition.

Torun studied at Konstfack, the School of Arts, Crafts and Design in Stockholm, beginning in 1945 while pregnant with her first child. In 1956, Torun moved to France with her third husband, Walter Coleman, an Afro-American painter, meeting many of the jazz greats of that time. She designed jewellery for among others, Billie Holiday which Holiday wore when she performed.

In 1968, she moved to Germany. She had a workshop and worked with other artists in an association called “Die Schwinge”.Beginning in 1967, Torun’s production was taken over by Georg Jensen silver. Since moving to Germany, Torun worked on things other than jewellery, including cutlery, chinaware and handbags. In 1978, Torun moved to Indonesia where she still lives.

On November 5, 1992, Torun was awarded the Prince Eugen medal by King Carl XVI Gustav of Sweden. The medal is bestowed for outstanding artistic achievement.