“Fruitfire handmade ceramics are the designs and works of award winning artist Rom Marinkovich.

The concept for every piece, through to the finished work is done on site in Rom’s studio northwest of Auckland, New Zealand. Handmade original segments are cast as molds in the studio before each piece is slip-cast and delicately assembled, glazed and fired. Each work is signed and dated and no two works are the same. This Mine mug has been handcrafted by New Zealand ceramic artist Romina Marinkovich of Fruitfire.

Romina assembles, glazes and fires each piece in her home studio and makes all her own molds from hand-sculpted shapes and found objects. These form the various components that come together to make one vessel.

Porcelain clay slips are used and Romina mixes her own colours, using stains and some commercial glazes and lusters.

Mine Cup features ‘detonator’ legs and a ‘D-ring’ handle. The rust-look texture of the exterior gives it the appearance of having spent years suspended under the ocean. Now it awaits its new life as a vessel for thirsty sea-dogs.

110 mm high x 100 mm diameter. 300 ml capacity

Each piece takes 3-4 hours of hands-on time as well as 3-5 firings to complete. Because my mugs are 100% handmade, no two are identical and slight imperfections are part and parcel of each piece. Each mug is fired to 2160°F (1185°C) in an electric kiln and designed for functional use with food safe glazes; I recommend careful hand-washing to avoid accidental breakage.

The mugs with metallic lusters, in particular, are not dishwasher or microwave friendly.”