A mug is a very personal thing. I have 2 that are my current sacred mugs. One for tea or coffee at home, and another at the studio. A good mug needs to fit in the hand. The handle needs to give me the option of holding it in my fist or putting my hand through it as I cradle the cup. It needs to be a good size, and designed to keep my drink warm. It needs to be able to go in the microwave, so I can reheat my drink throughout the day. It needs to come from the heart, through the hands.
Here are some mug shots. What do you look for in a mug?
i need size. and ability to keep my coffee warm. and it has to appeal to me on an emotional level or i won’t even consider using it. the one i use now holds two full cups and boy has one just like it.
We’ve actually had discussions about this in my household before. We all agree that too many mugs have handles that are too small. Rachel in particular tries her mugs on for size before she buys them because she has rather large hands. The second thing we look for is capacity – we all like 12-16 ounce mugs best. The third thing is my hang-up, I hate thick-walled mugs. I’m not looking for fine china or anything, but I want the mug to be no thicker than about an eighth of an inch or so. (Yes, I just measured my favorite mug.)
I like my mugs to be tall with a large handle. Sort of V shaped. No plastic (ick) and they must be pretty. Lastly, they cannot say made in CHINA!!! I refuse to buy china from there because I absolutely don’t trust the lead count. Is that crazy?
How unusual to have a place to talk about this! Our shelves are filled with many handmade mugs, ceramic (stoneware) ones thrown by people we knew at Baltimore Clayworks. My favorites were thrown by Linda Biehl, maybe 30 years ago…no one knew where she went. At a fair I found another whose squat shape I especially loved, from a potter in Columbia, Maryland. Green, unlike any others I had, heartbroken when it slipped out of hand, broke.
One thing I really like in a mug handle is the ability for me toput my fingers through it and at least one other so I can carry 2 mugs in one hand without burning my knuckles
I like a good, solid mug and plenty of space between the body of the mug and the handle. But not TOO much. I really don’t like the mugs we are using now; I must rectify this!
What happens when 2 ceramic artists decide to live together who both have vast handmade mug collectons and very few cabinets?
We had to pack away half of what we have!!! We will rotate the ones set aside later.
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patti said,
July 8, 2009 @ 10:54 am
i need size. and ability to keep my coffee warm. and it has to appeal to me on an emotional level or i won’t even consider using it. the one i use now holds two full cups and boy has one just like it.
Bridget Coffman said,
July 8, 2009 @ 11:12 am
We’ve actually had discussions about this in my household before. We all agree that too many mugs have handles that are too small. Rachel in particular tries her mugs on for size before she buys them because she has rather large hands. The second thing we look for is capacity – we all like 12-16 ounce mugs best. The third thing is my hang-up, I hate thick-walled mugs. I’m not looking for fine china or anything, but I want the mug to be no thicker than about an eighth of an inch or so. (Yes, I just measured my favorite mug.)
rudeek said,
July 8, 2009 @ 12:26 pm
I like my mugs to be tall with a large handle. Sort of V shaped. No plastic (ick) and they must be pretty. Lastly, they cannot say made in CHINA!!! I refuse to buy china from there because I absolutely don’t trust the lead count. Is that crazy?
Jodi Anderson said,
July 8, 2009 @ 2:53 pm
What do I look for? SOMETHING LIKE THE ONE IN THE FOREFRONT OF PHOTO #3. Is that mug for sale and/or still available?
My husband might murder me in my sleep if I order another mug, but … be still my heart, I adore that mug.
fromskilledhands said,
July 8, 2009 @ 3:36 pm
We can make a mugs like any ones in the photos, or any other design. Either email me: fromskilledhands AT gmail DOT com, or fill out the contact form.
naomi dagen bloom said,
July 9, 2009 @ 8:42 am
How unusual to have a place to talk about this! Our shelves are filled with many handmade mugs, ceramic (stoneware) ones thrown by people we knew at Baltimore Clayworks. My favorites were thrown by Linda Biehl, maybe 30 years ago…no one knew where she went. At a fair I found another whose squat shape I especially loved, from a potter in Columbia, Maryland. Green, unlike any others I had, heartbroken when it slipped out of hand, broke.
Kim Ayres said,
July 9, 2009 @ 11:59 am
One thing I really like in a mug handle is the ability for me toput my fingers through it and at least one other so I can carry 2 mugs in one hand without burning my knuckles
Larramiefg said,
July 10, 2009 @ 1:20 pm
LOVE the last mugs…elegant!
gerry rosser said,
July 13, 2009 @ 7:49 am
I favor mugs with a tallish, cylindrical shape, not to skinny. A three-finger handle is nice, too.
I don’t like flared lips on them, or pot bellies, and I prefer a smooth finish.
When we are out in stores where mugs are displayed, I look, and it amazingly hard to find any which match my preferences.
Kris said,
July 14, 2009 @ 10:18 am
I like a good, solid mug and plenty of space between the body of the mug and the handle. But not TOO much. I really don’t like the mugs we are using now; I must rectify this!
Ruth Apter / One Hundred Horses said,
November 8, 2009 @ 10:44 am
What happens when 2 ceramic artists decide to live together who both have vast handmade mug collectons and very few cabinets?
We had to pack away half of what we have!!! We will rotate the ones set aside later.