Erich and Ingrid Triller – Ceramics from Tobo
Erich Triller (1898-1972) and Ingrid Triller (1905-1982) were husband-and-wife ceramists specializing in elegant, perfect and clean stoneware inspired by Bauhaus. They were trained in Germany and established a studio in Tobo, Sweden, which they operated for thirty-seven years. The Triller couple is represented at numerous museums in Sweden. Find your favorite among Erich and Ingrid Triller’s design or learn more about them by reading their biography.
Erich and Ingrid Triller – A Short Biography
The early years
German-born Erich Triller (1898-1972) and Swedish-born Ingrid Triller (1905-1982) were a well-known husband-and-wife ceramic team. The couple met during their art studies in Germany between 1929-34. In 1935, the Trillers established a small ceramics workshop in Tobo, north of Stockholm. They invested in a railroad-car load of clay, which would supply them for the rest of their careers.
Left image, vase with mottled, cloudy-blue glaze, likely 1960s. Right image, Erich and Ingrid in the Tobo studio.
Bauhaus influence
Ingrid and Erich Triller were strongly influenced by the Bauhaus movement's approach to ceramics, characterized by an eye for detail and attention to the work process. This approach allowed the Trillers to better control the results of glazing and firing. They kept records on every piece they produced. Every firing was documented in a journal.
Left image, Ingrid at the turning wheel. Right image, vases with coffee brown glaze, likely 1940s.
Perfectionist forms and glazes
Erich and Ingrid Triller were remarkably successful, turning precise forms with consistently exquisite glazes. These magnificent forms and glazes were often reminiscent of pottery from the Chinese Sung dynasty.
Left image, vase with warm mustard-yellow glaze, likely 1950s. Right image, Ingrid and son in the Tobo studio.