Sure, mugs can be found everywhere, but most are mass-produced overseas and are as forgettable as truck-stop coffee. Times designers wanted to make something special and local. The result: A porcelain mug handmade in Brooklyn by a women-run design studio using centuries-old techniques that have all but vanished in New York. The mug features our iconic “T” logo debossed below the surface, adding eye-catching dimension to the impeccable design.
Take an old-school coffee break from the day’s breaking news. This handmade and Brooklyn-made mug was produced in collaboration with Franca, a small manufacturer founded by Sierra Yip-Bannicq and Jazmin de la Guardia in 2016. Franca prides itself in being one of the few shops in New York City that continues the almost lost art of producing handmade porcelain mugs.
Franca used an ancient artisan process called slip casting to make the mug. It consists of pouring liquid
clay, or slip, into a plaster mold. When the clay thickens on the mold’s inside wall, the rest of the liquid is poured out. As the clay dries, it detaches itself from the mold. The object is later dried, fired in a kiln, glazed and fired again.
A custom mold, weeks in the making, along with Franca’s keen attention to detail, produced the beautiful “T” on each mug.
The mug is perfect for relaxing and sipping your favorite brew. And as you drink in the morning’s news, you’ll find comfort in knowing some things are still being made the old-fashioned way. Because each mug is handmade and unique, slight color variations may occur.
