Novica-Novica Handmade Elephant Handle In Green Celadon Ceramic Mug

Designed by Thai artisan Aunchalee Kaewduangtip this mug will make a charming addition to your morning routine. Handcrafted of ceramic the mug is finished with a crackled green celadon glaze. Finished with a brown glaze the handle is crafted in the shape of an elephant s head and trunk.Product Features: Dimension: 5.75 H x 4.9 W x 3.5 D Weight: 0.79 Color: Grey and BrownMaterial: CeramicMicrowave safeDishwasher safeFree of lead and toxinsMade in ThailandStory Behind the art: I was born in Chiang Mai in 1976. When I was in junior high schools like the one I attended focused on practicing an art or craft along with our academic subjects so I chose the ceramics class because it looked like fun. We learned to use a potter s wheel to create plates bowls vases or other containers in circular shapes. Today I work in ceramics at home. I start by taking the clay from the rice fields and drying it in the sun. I then grind it to a powder and strain out any sediment or weeds. The resulting powder is a very fine clay. To use it I soak it in water. When the clay becomes sticky I rub it before use and place it on the potter s wheel. We turn it by hand while shaping the clay with our hands and my friends and I take turns either turning the wheel or molding the clay. Finally when I have the shape I want I put my pottery in the kiln. Then I wait with excitement hoping it turns as we expected. I fell in love with ceramics so I studied for a vocational certificate in the art department. During my first year of college I told my teacher that I wanted to major in ceramics rather than waiting for a suggestion. And for my high vocational certificate I studied more complicated aspects of the work such as the selection of soil or using the kiln at different temperatures. Because my family didn t have enough money I decided not to continue in the university. I began working with Duangkamol another featured artisan in her workshop. My duty was carving and decorating the pattern clearly before we put the ceramics into the kiln. I enjoyed working with her and I learned many things but I still dreamed about crafting my own designs. After four years there I bought a small gas-fired kiln suitable for a family workshop and began working on my own. I didn t know anything about sales or marketing but it didn t concern me that much. Because I worked at home it didn t take much money to begin and it was worth a try. I practiced using the kiln until the ceramics came out perfect. The first generation of my own designs included a hand-thrown container and another made with the slab method in which we press clay into thin sheets cut them to the desired shape then hand-stamp the patterns and join the pieces. This method was not popular because each piece came out a different size but I find it charming. Many people suggested I use a mold which could make every piece the same size and is faster. However I insist on using the slab method because I want to touch every piece of my work. I felt I could pass my feelings onto my designs — my happiness in each one of them. Although they are functional containers they can be pieces of art. I continue working at home crafting vases dishes or bowls on the wheel or with the slab technique. The handmade touch of artisan skill creates variations in color size and design. If buying two of the same item slight differences should be expected. Note: Color discrepancies may occur between this product and your computer screen.Imported Brown