Mali Coffee Mug - Forest Green - Set of 2

A pair of coffee mugs made in terracotta, each 8cm tall, 10cm across and holding 400ml. The glaze is a deep forest green that runs from the rim down to just below the middle of the body, where it stops in an uneven line and leaves the lower part of the mug as bare, unglazed terracotta. The green breaks paler where it thins over the curve and gathers darker where it pools, and the handle is a broad loop applied to the side and glazed along with the top half.

At 400ml this is a full sized coffee mug rather than a small one, 8cm tall against 10cm across, so it stands wider than it is high. The mugs are dishwasher and microwave safe and the terracotta is food safe, which puts them in daily use at a kitchen table rather than on a shelf. Two come in a set.

The body is terracotta, made by hand by potters in southern India and fired in small brick kilns over open flames, and each mug is dipped in the green glaze by hand. That means the line where the glaze stops sits a little differently on every mug, and the colour breaks and pools in its own way over each curve. The Mali range also holds a large mug, ribbed coffee and espresso mugs, a jug and a teapot. The mugs are made as part of a fair trade initiative that supports steady employment and opportunities for makers in the local community.

How much does each mug hold?

400ml.

How many are in a set?

Two.

Are they dishwasher safe?

Yes, and microwave safe, and the terracotta is food safe.

Will the two mugs match?

Not exactly. Each one is dipped in the glaze by hand, so the line where the green stops, and the way the colour breaks over the curve, differ between them.

How do I look after them?

Wash after every use so the terracotta does not stain, using a mild detergent, and do not leave them to soak. Handle them carefully, since fired clay will chip.