Here at Sprudge we are always keeping our eye open for interesting bits of ephemera in the world of ceramics. Be it the third wave heyday with Ben Medansky’s pieces at Go Get Em Tiger or the so cute it hurts drinkware by Hana Ward of Los Angeles’s Uno+Ichi (whose latest drop stretches the limits of practicality in the name of infinite cuteness), a hand-made pour-over set by Veak Ceramics or a set of vintage beefcake novelty mugs, we are always on the lookout for the weird and well-appointed. And the latest ceramic we have found is maybe both?
Introducing the Klein Blue Ceramic Coffee Cup Set by J & M Union in Toronto, which combines elegance and texture with ergonomic enigma, and it’s live on Kickstarter now.
The most immediate and striking feature of the mug is the color (no small feat considering the handle situation). Known as Klein Blue, the color famously attributed to artist Yves Klein, “a shade of pure ultramarine that Klein claimed to have invented and trademarked” that is the subject of one of his pieces from 1961. And the matte finish adds a textural component that you can almost feel from the photos. An accompanying saucer in the same color and finish and a mid-century gold spoon complete the set that was “inspired by Japanese minimalism and European elegance, this set combines modern aesthetics with functional artistry.”
Now onto the handle. What to say about the handle. Well, for one, it looks like an oversized gamepiece from the board game Sorry got jammed in the cup, and when the mug is placed on the base of the handle, it takes on the look of a spotlight aiming down toward the table. Which I have to admit, I think looks pretty cool if not a little precarious. But the real question is: how does one hold it and does it feel in the hand? Do you grip it between the pointer and middle finger like you would a popsocket when you’re trying to take a selfie with your oversized phone? Do you grip it as though you were turning a dial to pour hot beverage into your mouth? Do you grip it by the husk (which I imagine to be a simple question of weight ratio)? But the elusiveness of its use only adds to the appeal and the intentional nature with which it would be handled.
With over eight weeks left in the campaign, the Klein Blue Ceramic Coffee Cup Set has netted $132 of it $706 goal. Would-be backers can grab a set of their own for as low as $35, and there’s even a red color variant (why why when the blue is right there). If the campaign makes, rewards are expected to begin shipping in March. For more information or to back the campaign, visit the the Klein Blue Ceramic Coffee Cup Set’s Kickstarter page.
Zac Cadwalader is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.
