Boobs, coffee, and fjord views: New ceramic cafe has opened in Aalborg
There aren’t many places where you will meet bare breasts, glazed penises, and views over the fjord when walking around Aalborg.
However, that is exactly what you can expect when you pop by the city’s newest ceramic cafe that has opened up shop close to Kulturbroen this week.
Here is where Handmade by Tone has just opened a new ceramic workshop where you can buy coffee, ice cream, and, of course, her iconic breast-cups – they are, in fact, so iconic, that she has just got the design copyrighted.
“When I started to make them, the vision was to desexualize the body by materializing it and put the focus on body culture.
My wish was to celebrate the body’s individuality by making sustainable ceramic pieces for men and women. And I have now succeeded,” she explains.
Workshop overlooking the fjord
For a few years now, Tone has been happily creating cups in all shapes and colors; and in the future, she can do so even more in her own workshop overlooking the fjord.
“When I started making ceramics, I was allowed to sit out in Råt og Godt, but later I moved to Spritten where some of the containers were available.
I was here for many months while my workshop grew and my sales increased.
I dreamt of coming closer to the water, so I could be more visible,” Tone Rafn Tygesen says.
That was a hope that Tone’s landlord wanted to accommodate.
More life in the workshop
This weekend, Tone could officially open the doors to her brand new workshop with an adjoining café.
Here, you can take a look at Tone’s beautiful creations, get a cup of coffee and enjoy the view out over the fjord from the newly built terrace on top of the workshop.
“I dreamed of having more life down here, and now you can come by for a drink or snack.
I hope that people will also want to sit up on top, perhaps with some knitting needles, or just to hang out with each other,” Tone says.
Tone is currently offering “Vild Is” from Denmark’s most utopia-like pastures “Thy”, which is organic and packed with the flavor of wild berries.
Big players help the little guy
The interior in the new workshop already shines just like Tone’s charming smile, and there’s a good reason for that.
Most of the furniture has come from local businesses that have seen the massive potential in Tone’s project – and have therefore helped her to get it up and running.
“I am really surprised and touched by the fact that so many have been willing to help me on my way.
When starting something new, money is always tight, and if I had to pay for everything myself, then I’d never be as far along as I am now.
It’s so cool,” she says.
Tone has, among other things, loaned her terrace furniture from SACKit, while Nørresundby Tømrerforretning has sponsored the wooden deck. Bolia has provided the decor for the terrace, and the coffee machine is a gift from Elgiganten in City Syd.
In addition, Kop og Kande in the city has been very helpful with rugs and blankets, so that both Tone and her guests have the best conditions to make Tone’s dream of a lively workshop a reality.
Next stop: Berlin!
On the shelves of the workshop are rows of Tone’s darlings, the breast-cups, all set and ready to meet the customers. They can be bought for 319 kr.
Beyond that, there is also a wide and ever-changing variety of other ceramic creations as Tone produces her newest ceramic ideas. The latest addition is the popular croissant cup… which is (for now) all but sold out.
“Even though the breast-cups sell really well, I still want to push myself to develop new things,” she explains.
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Tone’s creative abilities are already being received with open arms by many, and it may be only a matter of time before she hits the international market.
In any case, Louisianas latest exhibition Mother! is soon on route to Berlin; and Tone’s breasts may be going along for the ride.
“The breast-cups are being sold at Louisiana in connection with their exhibition that’s now moving on to Berlin. Hence, I’m currently in discussions with them about whether the cups can go there too.
That would really be a big thing for me,” she says.
Dreams of more workshops
Home in Aalborg though, there is a rush on her products, and Tone is always working hard to keep up with the demand.
She also offers workshops throughout the year for friends, companies, and events where people can spend the evening with their own set of soft clay breasts or penises in their hands.
“I really want to do more of that kind of thing, so I will try to find time for it.
The events are put up on Instagram and my website when they are happening,” tells Tone, who could definitely be called a truly successful entrepreneur.
Now that her workshop has finally found its place by the Limfjord, we can do nothing else but highly recommend stopping by.
Order a coffee, enjoy the view, and hear Tone talk passionately about her little hobby, which started in her housing association and is now being sent all around the country.
You can follow Handmade by Tone right here.
