A pottery portrait – ceramicists for generations
TYBO is a family business and a caring collaboration between Stinne Bo, her husband Nis Tyrrestrup and Stinne’s father Hans Bo. The passion for pottery and having a family business runs in their blood since Hans’s mother – Stinnes grandmother had a pottery workshop in Djursland. Years later, he opened his own workshop. The one that up until now has been the core of the creation of the TYBO products.
Inspired by clay
Hans has been a potter since 1976, and his knowledge about clay is enormous and fascinating. He is like a clay Lexicon, and is always happy to share the wisdom.
In Denmark, we hardly have any clay. The best clay comes from mountainous areas, and as the highest point in Denmark is a small hill, it is almost impossible to get usable Danish clay. The TYBO clay is our own mix excavated from England and Germany. It is a fine blend to ensure the correct plasticity after the firing process.
The ceramics reveal the mood of the potter
Hans and Stinne, Father and daughter, have been working closely together the last couple of years and doing that, they are getting to know each other a little more every day. The deep knowledge about each other – and the handcraft they both perform, make it visible to Stinne how her father Hans is doing simply by looking at the pottery. “It is a clear reflection of how he feels. It expresses itself in the pottery structure,” Stinne shares and smiles at Hans.
Succeed with the design
Stinne and Nis create sketches of the pottery they want to include in the product range for Hans to try to recreate in clay. Despite sometimes expressing doubts about translating the sketches into clay, Hans consistently produces incredible handcrafted pieces. He possesses a deep understanding of the material's strengths and weaknesses, and when he commits himself to a project, he always succeeds. Among Hans's latest creations are the Hans Tea Cup (named after the craftsman himself) and the Mona Bubble Bowl.
