As proud (and vain?) potters, we try to drink out of pottery as much as we can. Especially when we leave our house to run errands or attend an event, we like to use ceramic vessels that we, or potters we know personally, have made. After splashing many
liquids out of traditional mugs in our minivan, we set out to make a lidded mug that would be more conducive for containing drinks on the go, but still elicit the “Wow, cool mug” comments that—let’s be honest—all potters
crave.
We went through several iterations in this quest, but settled on a tall mug with a locking lid design that seemed a good marriage of simplicity and function. Its tall and narrow dimensions and the elevated attachment of the handle allow it to fit into
most vehicle cup holders. The wide, strap-style handle provides comfort, despite the torque of a tall mug. And, the full-ceramic construction (at least with the mid-fire clay and glaze we use) allows drinks to be reheated in a microwave.
Create the Mug Form
Begin by preparing three balls of clay: one 2-pound (0.9-kg) ball, one 4-ounce ball (113-g), and one 3-ounce (85-g) ball (1). Center the 2-pound ball and pull a tall cylinder, maintaining a thick upper rim (2). To fit into most vehicle cup holders, the
bottom of the cylinder must be less than 3 inches (7.6 cm) in diameter, so aim for a cylinder of approximately 3 inches (7.6 cm) wide and 7 inches (17.8 cm) in height. We find these pre-fired dimensions render a final size that is just about right
and will hold approximately 12–14 ounces of fluid. Because of Lisa’s love of surface alterations (like carving, faceting, etc.) we leave the walls thick at this point.
Next, wet a wooden rib and the top of the cylinder. With the wheel spinning and working from inside of the top lip, push a portion of the clay downward with the right angle of the rib (3), creating a gallery approximately ¾ inch into the cylinder
(4). Smooth the rim with a chamois or thin piece of plastic (5). Remove the cylinder from the wheel and set it aside to firm up.
Create the Knob, Lid, and Handle
Center the 4-ounce ball of clay on the wheel. Gently pressing down and together, use both index fingers to create a knob in the center of the lid (6). Form the knob with a low profile (7), as too wide a knob may interfere with one’s upper lip when
drinking, and too tall a knob will interfere with one’s nose—the knob should rise about ½ inch (1.3 cm) from the top of the lid, and be around 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter.
Ensure that you throw the lid wider than the inside diameter of your cylinder—approximately 3½ inches (8.9 cm) in diameter before it is trimmed to fit into the gallery of the mug. Set the lid aside to dry.
Using the final 3-ounce ball of clay, pull a strap handle (8). Pull the handle longer than you will need so you can trim it to size when you later attach it (9). Set the handle aside to firm up.
Cover the top of the cylinder with plastic, allowing the thicker bottom to firm up while keeping the upper rim pliable. Once the three parts have firmed up (so that they can be touched without easily deforming, but are not yet leather hard), it is time
to assemble the mug.
Assemble the Mug
Use calipers to measure the internal diameter of the mug (10), then use a pin tool to trim the lid to fit. While the lid is still on the bat, use a round trimming tool to create a small drinking notch (11). The lid should have a bit of play inside gallery
walls, approximately 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) to ⅛ inch (3.2 mm). If needed, use a trimming tool to create a better fit.
Place the trimmed lid into the gallery and carefully crimp one point of the rim by bending it inward with a sponge. Be careful not to bend it so far that it makes contact with the lid or keeps it from rotating. Create a complementary crimp on the other
side of the rim (12). Test that the shape and size of the bends allow the lid to still rotate and be removed, but only when the drinking notch is facing one of the crimps (13). The lid should be able to be lifted up approximately ⅛ inch (3.2 mm)
before it makes contact with the crimps.
Trim any excess clay from the outer walls of the cylinder (14). Apply the handle to the cylinder in line with one of the crimps (15). When doing this, ensure that the bottom of the handle attaches fairly high on the cylinder, approximately 3 inches (7.6
cm) from the bottom. This will allow the finished mug to fit down into a vehicle cup holder.
Using a carving tool, cut out the gallery ledge at the two points opposite the rim crimps (and perpendicular to where the handle attaches when looking down into the mug) (16). This will allow the mug to be used by either right- or left-handed individuals.
See how the lid fits and locks into place in the cross-section of the finished mug in figure 17.
Optional Surface Decoration
Lisa likes to decorate the surfaces of our travel mugs with vine carvings, faceting, or wildflower sgraffito techniques (18). After making any desired surface alterations, allow the piece to dry slowly until bone dry and then bisque fire it to cone 04.
Glaze the interior with a food-safe glaze and fire it again to the appropriate cone for your clay and glaze.
Note for success: Even after making hundreds of travel mugs, getting the lid fit just right can be frustrating. We use a diamond sanding disk fitted on our wheel to fine-tune the size and shape of some lids when needed.
David and Lisa Dault are a husband-and-wife team of self-taught potters who have been working with clay for over ten years. In early 2023, they took the plunge into full-time pottery. Lisa is the main maker while David takes care of many other aspects of the business. Together they homeschool their five daughters and reside in Southwestern Ohio. You can see more work and follow their journey on Instagram @daultpotteryor find out more at www.daultpottery.com.
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As proud (and vain?) potters, we try to drink out of pottery as much as we can. Especially when we leave our house to run errands or attend an event, we like to use ceramic vessels that we, or potters we know personally, have made. After splashing many liquids out of traditional mugs in our minivan, we set out to make a lidded mug that would be more conducive for containing drinks on the go, but still elicit the “Wow, cool mug” comments that—let’s be honest—all potters crave.
We went through several iterations in this quest, but settled on a tall mug with a locking lid design that seemed a good marriage of simplicity and function. Its tall and narrow dimensions and the elevated attachment of the handle allow it to fit into most vehicle cup holders. The wide, strap-style handle provides comfort, despite the torque of a tall mug. And, the full-ceramic construction (at least with the mid-fire clay and glaze we use) allows drinks to be reheated in a microwave.
Create the Mug Form
Begin by preparing three balls of clay: one 2-pound (0.9-kg) ball, one 4-ounce ball (113-g), and one 3-ounce (85-g) ball (1). Center the 2-pound ball and pull a tall cylinder, maintaining a thick upper rim (2). To fit into most vehicle cup holders, the bottom of the cylinder must be less than 3 inches (7.6 cm) in diameter, so aim for a cylinder of approximately 3 inches (7.6 cm) wide and 7 inches (17.8 cm) in height. We find these pre-fired dimensions render a final size that is just about right and will hold approximately 12–14 ounces of fluid. Because of Lisa’s love of surface alterations (like carving, faceting, etc.) we leave the walls thick at this point.
Next, wet a wooden rib and the top of the cylinder. With the wheel spinning and working from inside of the top lip, push a portion of the clay downward with the right angle of the rib (3), creating a gallery approximately ¾ inch into the cylinder (4). Smooth the rim with a chamois or thin piece of plastic (5). Remove the cylinder from the wheel and set it aside to firm up.
Create the Knob, Lid, and Handle
Center the 4-ounce ball of clay on the wheel. Gently pressing down and together, use both index fingers to create a knob in the center of the lid (6). Form the knob with a low profile (7), as too wide a knob may interfere with one’s upper lip when drinking, and too tall a knob will interfere with one’s nose—the knob should rise about ½ inch (1.3 cm) from the top of the lid, and be around 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter.
Ensure that you throw the lid wider than the inside diameter of your cylinder—approximately 3½ inches (8.9 cm) in diameter before it is trimmed to fit into the gallery of the mug. Set the lid aside to dry.
Using the final 3-ounce ball of clay, pull a strap handle (8). Pull the handle longer than you will need so you can trim it to size when you later attach it (9). Set the handle aside to firm up.
Cover the top of the cylinder with plastic, allowing the thicker bottom to firm up while keeping the upper rim pliable. Once the three parts have firmed up (so that they can be touched without easily deforming, but are not yet leather hard), it is time to assemble the mug.
Assemble the Mug
Use calipers to measure the internal diameter of the mug (10), then use a pin tool to trim the lid to fit. While the lid is still on the bat, use a round trimming tool to create a small drinking notch (11). The lid should have a bit of play inside gallery walls, approximately 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) to ⅛ inch (3.2 mm). If needed, use a trimming tool to create a better fit.
Place the trimmed lid into the gallery and carefully crimp one point of the rim by bending it inward with a sponge. Be careful not to bend it so far that it makes contact with the lid or keeps it from rotating. Create a complementary crimp on the other side of the rim (12). Test that the shape and size of the bends allow the lid to still rotate and be removed, but only when the drinking notch is facing one of the crimps (13). The lid should be able to be lifted up approximately ⅛ inch (3.2 mm) before it makes contact with the crimps.
Trim any excess clay from the outer walls of the cylinder (14). Apply the handle to the cylinder in line with one of the crimps (15). When doing this, ensure that the bottom of the handle attaches fairly high on the cylinder, approximately 3 inches (7.6 cm) from the bottom. This will allow the finished mug to fit down into a vehicle cup holder.
Using a carving tool, cut out the gallery ledge at the two points opposite the rim crimps (and perpendicular to where the handle attaches when looking down into the mug) (16). This will allow the mug to be used by either right- or left-handed individuals. See how the lid fits and locks into place in the cross-section of the finished mug in figure 17.
Optional Surface Decoration
Lisa likes to decorate the surfaces of our travel mugs with vine carvings, faceting, or wildflower sgraffito techniques (18). After making any desired surface alterations, allow the piece to dry slowly until bone dry and then bisque fire it to cone 04. Glaze the interior with a food-safe glaze and fire it again to the appropriate cone for your clay and glaze.
Note for success: Even after making hundreds of travel mugs, getting the lid fit just right can be frustrating. We use a diamond sanding disk fitted on our wheel to fine-tune the size and shape of some lids when needed.
David and Lisa Dault are a husband-and-wife team of self-taught potters who have been working with clay for over ten years. In early 2023, they took the plunge into full-time pottery. Lisa is the main maker while David takes care of many other aspects of the business. Together they homeschool their five daughters and reside in Southwestern Ohio. You can see more work and follow their journey on Instagram @daultpottery or find out more at www.daultpottery.com.
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