▲ This travel cup is available at a discount due the tiny crack on the outer bottom. Rest assured, these small imperfections don’t impact the cup's safety or functionality at all — I thought you’d appreciate a little discount!

Beautiful dark stoneware travel cup with checkered glaze pattern. This type of drinkware is also known as mustache cup, as the design protects the 'stache from getting milk froth on it. A great gift for latte or cappuccino lovers.

Every cup is made by hand, giving it a distinct personality. The checkered melting glaze pattern varies slightly from cup to cup, making each one special. This cup will be the perfect companion when you're on-the-go but still want to sip your favourite warm beverage with style.

Curious about how these handmade travel cups are made? Discover the process at the bottom of the description.

▲ Keep in mind that each piece is unique and may slightly differ from the image.

▲ SIZE (approx.):

∘ Diameter (top): 9 cm / 3.54 in

∘ Diameter (bottom): 7 cm / 2.75 in

∘ Height: 10 cm / 3.93 in

∘ Weight: 350 g / 0.77 lb

∘ Capacity: 300 ml / 10 oz

Each piece is handmade and unique with different kind of perfect imperfections (also known as wabi-sabi). Before making a purchase please take a careful look at all of the pictures & you're welcome to ask questions about the pieces.

▲ MATERIAL: stoneware clay & non-toxic, lead-free glaze.

▲ WASHING: to maintain the quality of the cup and ensure longevity, hand-washing with a sponge and dishwashing liquid is recommended. Please do not place the mug in oven or freezer or microwave, as this could cause thermal shock and result in fragility.

▲ PACKAGING:

Let's do as much as we can to minimize plastic waste & keep our mama Earth healthy. Reduce, reuse & recycle. All packaging I use is either recycled, reused or made with biodegradable materials.

▲ PROCESSING & SHIPPING:

Processing & shipping the orders usually takes 3-5 business days. Delivery time is expected to be up to 21 days but this may vary from country to country. If you live outside Europe & Northern America and wish to know the delivery time for your specific location or if you'd like to explore express shipping options please do get in touch with me via info@zemeceramics.com.

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▲ Handmade Travel Cups: My Pottery Process

First, I start with a piece of clay. I wedge it by hand to make it soft and eliminate any air bubbles. Next, I place the clay on the wheel and shape it into a vessel. After allowing it to dry slightly, I use a wire tool to detach it from the wheel. The following day, I trim the excess clay from the bottom and stamp it with my maker's mark. I then wrap the vessel and let it dry slowly and carefully for about a week to prevent cracks.

The next step is the bisque firing. Before loading the bone-dry vessels into the kiln, I sponge them to ensure they are smooth. The bisque firing lasts roughly 10 hours, with the kiln reaching around 900°C (1652°F). This process hardens the clay, making it easier to sand and glaze. After the bisque firing, the kiln takes one to two days to cool down.

Once cooled, I sand the cups to smooth out any imperfections. I then wash and dry them thoroughly before moving on to glazing. Glazing is a meticulous process that requires patience. For the checkered pattern cups, I use small pieces of tape to create the design on each vessel, which takes about 30-45 minutes per cup. I typically use a combination of at least two different glazes to achieve the desired colors. Glazing each piece takes another 30-45 minutes.

After applying the glaze, I let it dry before carefully removing the tape. I then use a small tool to clean up any glaze splatters and ensure the pattern is precise. For other glaze patterns, I first draw the design with a pencil and then hand-paint it using a brush. I also sponge the bottom of each cup to prevent the glaze from sticking to the kiln shelf during firing.

When all the pieces are ready, I load the kiln for the glaze firing, which lasts about 12-14 hours, with the kiln reaching around 1240°C (2264°F). This firing fully vitrifies the cups, making them waterproof and ready for use. After the glaze firing, the kiln needs about two days to cool before I can remove the cups.

Finally, I inspect each piece for any necessary additional sanding. Once that's done, the cups are ready for a photoshoot and preparation for their new homes.

It's important to note that I work on different types of vessels simultaneously, which means I'm continuously at various stages of this process.