Tender’s sgraffito coffee mugs are hand thrown in England from natural red or white clay dug in England. They are slipped with natural white clay, and left unslipped and unglazed on the base, to reveal the original character of the material. The slip is hand engraved and glazed with coloured salts.

Throwing pots by hand involves drawing the desired form up from a single solid spinning lump of clay. Tender’s Master Potter works the clay directly with his bare hands, so each piece is unique and bears the marks of his fingers and thumbs.

Sgraffito mugs are hand-incised before being glazed, picking out the scratches through the slip to the darker red clay as black. This ancient technique was used by the Romans to create frescos. Each piece is engraved entirely by hand, using just a pointed wooden stylus, so is slightly different from the next.

Please bear in mind that this hand-made pottery should be washed by hand, and is not suitable for microwaves, ovens, or dishwashers. Plain, unengraved mugs are available here.