Photos provide by Tokheim Stoneware
From practical to collectible, Tokheim Stoneware’s Scandinavian folk art pottery has been adding a touch of handmade history to homes since 1973. Husband-and-wife duo Gene and Lucy Tokheim met in college and today spend endless hours in their western Minnesota pottery studio near Dawson. Over time, they’ve perfected the process: Gene throws the pots, and Lucy adds the designs—from intricate patterns to calligraphy and more. (In addition to their shared pottery work, Gene is a skilled jeweler and knife maker, while Lucy is a painter and printmaker.) Internationally exhibited and collected, their work showcases far and wide what it truly means to be “Minnesota made.” Aiming to honor the past while inspiring the next generation of artists, this creative couple proves a passion for pottery is enough to keep a business alive for nearly 50 years.
Midwest Home features local makers in each issue via The Collective. Find more on midwesthome.com/thecollective. Curated by Jerrod Sumner, founder of Brandtabulous, a Minneapolis-based marketing and brand storytelling agency that specializes in promoting American makers, including the ones featured on this page. brandtabulous.com
