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fw: a few thoughts on the price of mugs

updated wed 9 sep 09

 

Fred Parker on tue 8 sep 09


Hi Cindi:

You make some good points. However, I don't think it's altogether a size=
=3D

issue. They are small, but some tea drinkers prefer them small, and smal=
=3D
l
is what was requested. Of course, others want large, etc. I have a feel=
=3D
ing
they are simply in the wrong venue. Some have seen them love them but th=
=3D
ey
are a bit "artsy" and we all know that does not appeal to everyone...

Fred=3D20=3D20


On Mon, 7 Sep 2009 17:35:09 -0700, Cindi Anderson =3D
OM>
wrote:

>Is it possible they are not too expensive but simply too small? I often=
=3D
see
>mugs potters have made that are gorgeous, but I only use large mugs so I=
=3D

>just won't buy them. It's not a price issue. (Or there are other thing=
=3D
s I
>am picky about with mugs. Handles have to be large enough to get my han=
=3D
d
>in; the handle has to stick out enough that I don't burn myself but not =
=3D
too
>much that the center of gravity is wrong. Also some shapes tend to thro=
=3D
w
>the liquid at you and others don't.)
>
>Point being, in my opinion mugs have to fit much tighter functional spec=
=3D
s
>than other pieces.
>

June on tue 8 sep 09


I make both small and large mugs; but personally prefer large ones for my o=
wn use - probably because I only allow myself 2 cups of weak tea a morning,=
using one tea bag. When I had a gallery, I once had a customer who specif=
ically wanted small mugs because she didn't want to give guests a big cup o=
f coffee. I guess it was one of her budgetary considerations; but I thought=
it a bit bizarre that she would tell me that.


Regards,
June

http://www.shambhalapottery.blogspot.com
http://www.shambhalapottery.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sodasaltfiring/
http://saltandsodafiring.ning.com/
http://ncclayclub.blogspot.com




________________________________
From: Fred Parker
To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Sent: Tuesday, September 8, 2009 8:13:30 AM
Subject: Re: Fw: A few thoughts on the price of mugs

Hi Cindi:

You make some good points. However, I don't think it's altogether a size
issue. They are small, but some tea drinkers prefer them small, and small
is what was requested. Of course, others want large, etc. I have a feelin=
g
they are simply in the wrong venue. Some have seen them love them but they
are a bit "artsy" and we all know that does not appeal to everyone...

Fred


On Mon, 7 Sep 2009 17:35:09 -0700, Cindi Anderson >
wrote:

>Is it possible they are not too expensive but simply too small? I often s=
ee
>mugs potters have made that are gorgeous, but I only use large mugs so I
>just won't buy them. It's not a price issue. (Or there are other things =
I
>am picky about with mugs. Handles have to be large enough to get my hand
>in; the handle has to stick out enough that I don't burn myself but not to=
o
>much that the center of gravity is wrong. Also some shapes tend to throw
>the liquid at you and others don't.)
>
>Point being, in my opinion mugs have to fit much tighter functional specs
>than other pieces.
>

Elizabeth Priddy on tue 8 sep 09


A mug is a pot with an attachment.
If your mug costs differently than a small vase with a=3DA0sprig or some ot=
he=3D
r decoration, or a small piece with a painting,you are underselling it beca=
=3D
use of its utility.
Its utility should make it worth MORE, not less!
But you have to sell that, kind of like charity drives for radio. =3DA0"How=
m=3D
uch will youreally use this thing? =3DA0Every day, every week? =3DA0for how=
lon=3D
g? =3DA0will it sit on a shelf orwill you love it every single day?"
A mug in America IS a "teabowl".
Teaware from Mark Hewitt in NC is iced tea glasses. =3DA0And you difinitely=
p=3D
ay for them!

Elizabeth Priddy
=3D0ABeaufort, NC - USA
=3D0A
=3D0AWorkshops and pottery online at: http://www.elizabethpriddy.com
=3D0A
=3D0APersonal Blog: http://open.salon.com/user_blog.php?uid=3D3D943
=3D0A
=3D0ANatural Instincts Conference Information:
=3D0Ahttp://downtothepottershouse.com/NaturalInstincts.html
=3D0A
=3D0AKiln pictures and such: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7973282@N03/


=3D0A=3D0A=3D0A

Lee Love on tue 8 sep 09


On Tue, Sep 8, 2009 at 12:04 PM, Elizabeth Priddy wro=
=3D
te:
> A mug is a pot with an attachment.
> If your mug costs differently than a small vase with a=3DA0sprig or some =
ot=3D
her decoration, or a >small piece with a painting,you are underselling it b=
=3D
ecause of its utility.
> Its utility should make it worth MORE, not less!


My vases are as utilitarian as my mugs or pitchers. Flowers are
important in the house, especially if you live in a place that has
winters.


--
Lee Love, Minneapolis
"The tea ceremony bowl is the ceramic equivalent of a sonnet: a
small-scale, seemingly constricted form that challenges the artist to
go beyond mere technical virtuosity and find an approach that both
satisfies and transcends the conventions." -- Rob Sliberman
full essay: http://togeika.multiply.com/journal/item/273/