On the Shelf: Hand-crafted Artisan Mugs

Being the big tea and coffee drinkers we are, we have amassed quite a collection of mugs over the years. After our cabinets finally reached max capacity, we've since learned to be more conservative with our selection, choosing to take home only those that we feel are truly unique. You can imagine our excitement this morning as we unpacked our latest collection of mugs and tumblers. Hand-crafted by artisans, each mug is made of a mix of Serpentinite (rock) and clay. Formed through a unique process, the mugs are created using the dry Serpentinite that is hammered into powder and mixed together with the clay in a 70/30 ratio (70% Serpentinite and 30% clay). The pieces are then formed by and and with bamboo tools and smoothed with stones. After being fired in a kiln, the products are covered with leaves. The smoke from the leaves against the hot Serpentinite creates its unique black finish. Each tumblr is hand-crafted from clay and available in several shades of calming neutral tones. Combined with a pot of fresh brewed coffee, these mugs are the perfect way to start your day. See the entire collection in store!

Available at The Paris Market.

Currently Inspired: Vintage Beer Steins

Collected from every imaginable corner of Germany, our bar is now fully stocked with these beautiful authentic beer steins! Adorned in a variety of historical motifs, these decorative mugs are gorgeous, humorous, ornate, kitsch, and classic all at the same time. Perfect for any collector or beer drinker, our steins are available in several shapes and sizes. If you're like us and curious as to what the word stein means, it is derived from the German word for stone, as many beer steins were traditionally made out of stoneware. It is said the pewter lids adorning the tops of the mugs came in to use around the time of the Black Plague in an effort to prevent diseased insects from falling into the steins. It's near impossible to pick out a favorite or even several favorites, so we'll just highlight a few mugs that we find interesting.

Cheers!