I broke my all time favorite mug today.
I set both the mug, and a laundry basket down on the counter, and when I picked up the basket a bit later, forgot the mug was there. It fell over and must have landed just right to break the handle into three pieces.
This mug came from Two Dogs Pottery, in Alaska. We visited the Saturday Market in Anchorage, and I saw the potter's work. I didn't buy much that day, but I came away with a deep blue mug that is perhaps six or seven inches tall. The handle curves from the top of the mug all the way to the base and you can see hints of a warm dark brown at the rim of the mug, and edges of the handle. On the center front of the mug is the shape of a moose, in the natural bisque color of the clay. The moose pattern is sealed, and has a matte look to it.
I liked these mugs so much that I ordered more to give as gifts at Christmas, and I ordered three other animal designs for myself. We have the wolf, the bear, and a caribou. They aren't quite the same as the mug I've damaged. The blue is paler, the clay is a bit heavier.
I've been toying with the idea of calling her and asking if she could duplicate the one with the broken handle. It won't be the souvenir I brought home with me, but it would be close. Would you go to that length to replace something that was a favorite, or would you adjust to the loss and find a new favorite?
I guess I forgot to mention that I hate change.....
Comments (17)
Well, if you can get a dupe made, have someone with a steady hand glue the handle back together. Then put it up somewhere safe. They do make some great ceramic glue that is STRONG and if the parts mate well, you may not even see the break lines.
Let me know how it turns out.
ps. I'll look in my collection of glues and see what I can recommend.
Posted by Wichi Dude | January 11, 2005 9:36 PM
Posted on January 11, 2005 21:36
Thanks, sweetie! We talked about mending it, and I was concerned about getting a lap full of hot tea. If there's something that can make it usable, HOORAY! If I can only have it to look at, that's okay, too.
I have a couple of shots left on the camera. I'll take a picture of the mug and post it later.
Posted by Buffy | January 12, 2005 12:12 AM
Posted on January 12, 2005 00:12
Sheesh... that is so frustrating! I broke a new mug that a friend gave me when I was down this past spring/summer ... on this mug was written "she who laughs... lasts". It was so very appropriate. I took it to work the first day I was back when I started back in September. I put down my backpack too quickly and 'crash' ... it broke. The mug was in my bag... broken.
I didn't fix it, it was too many pieces --- but I kind of know what it is like to lose a special mug --- glad yours is fixable.
Posted by Desiree | January 12, 2005 1:32 AM
Posted on January 12, 2005 01:32
To me, having the potter make a replacement would hold as many memories as the original cup--maybe more. On the other hand, it depends upon the cost. Sometimes we can be totally unreasonable at spending money to replace our "favorite". Will you rue the loss for years to come if you don't?
Wish I knew how to put a new handle on the mug, but I don't. Personally, with so many from which to choose, I'd probably move on to the next animal. It's the easy way.
Posted by Cop Car | January 12, 2005 7:51 AM
Posted on January 12, 2005 07:51
Des, if I had smashed the cup beyond repair, I'd mourn it briefly and move on. I can glue the handle together, but I'm not sure that I will be able to trust it to hold a hot beverage again. It's too tall to use as a pencil mug. I could fill it with flowers, or just set it out to look at, but I'd really like my functioning mug back, rather than another dust catcher.
If this had been a gift, as yours was, breaking it would have been even more traumatic. I can empathize with you on the loss of the mug.
Cop Car, the cost of the mug is not so great to prevent replacing it. Will I rue not doing it for years to come? Probably not, but each time I take down one of the other animals, I'll think of the one I broke.
Heck....I wonder if I will think of the one I broke if I replace it!?? *G* I don't know....I need to think about this for a bit. It could be a moot point if the potter can't duplicate her work.
The practical side of me says "Move on." The not so practical side of me says "I want my mug back!" That's a Libran for you, always weighing the choices.
Posted by Buffy | January 12, 2005 10:02 AM
Posted on January 12, 2005 10:02
Hey girl, change is the only thing that is constant! I think you should make the call! Hey it's important to you thats all that counts! I had an accident here too. When they were puting on the roof. They droped a bundel of shingles and it shook the kitchen nocking one of my wifes Norman Rockwell plates of and breaking it. I don't even want to no how much that thing cost. It may not be replacable!
Posted by Joe Smitherman | January 12, 2005 12:36 PM
Posted on January 12, 2005 12:36
Oh my, Joe. What a shame to loose one of THOSE plates! You could try watching eBay to see if one shows up, or Replacements.com Are the roofers insured? Perhaps they can cover the cost of the replacement. I hope you can find another.
Posted by Buffy | January 12, 2005 5:09 PM
Posted on January 12, 2005 17:09
Even if you sent the mug to the potter, I doubt that the replacement mug would be precisely like the first one, Buffy. That's the nature of handmade (versus production line) pottery. Had she made them at the same time, using the same glaze batches and the same firing, they would probably be so close that no one would notice.
I'm probably preaching to the choir. Now's the time for you to tell me that you are a master potter (along with being a master at your other artistic ventures).
Posted by Cop Car | January 12, 2005 9:06 PM
Posted on January 12, 2005 21:06
No, sweetie....you're absolutely right. DH has also commented that I probably couldn't get the same depth of color, because each firing is individual. Nope....I don't do pottery, but if I could recreate that scene from "Ghost" I would, in a heartbeat! Thanks for your input.
Posted by Buffy | January 13, 2005 5:00 PM
Posted on January 13, 2005 17:00
Aha, another Swayze fan!
Posted by Cop Car | January 13, 2005 5:46 PM
Posted on January 13, 2005 17:46
Sorry to hear.
Mine was broken for me by my housekeeper just two.
Posted by Dr. D. | January 13, 2005 9:17 PM
Posted on January 13, 2005 21:17
Cop Car, have you seen "Road House"? I thought I'd died and gone to heaven....Patrick Swazye and Sam Elliot in the SAME MOVIE! The only way to make it better would have been to add Sean Connery in there somewhere (as a good guy)! It's not the best of movies...but I love the actors.
Posted by Buffy | January 14, 2005 4:01 PM
Posted on January 14, 2005 16:01
Too bad, Doc! I have a cleaning lady who is pretty hard on things. I can empathize.
Posted by Buffy | January 14, 2005 4:02 PM
Posted on January 14, 2005 16:02
No, I'm not familiar with "Road House"--or with Sam Elliot, for that matter. Could we spread the rumor that you and I (more likely, Adele?) were extras in "Dirty Dancing"? Come to think of it, the physician father was played by Jerry Orbacher (I've probably screwed up the name) who died a few days ago. He was good in everything that I ever saw him in--movie or TV.
Posted by Cop Car | January 14, 2005 6:52 PM
Posted on January 14, 2005 18:52
Jerry Orbach.....he was amazing. I've watched him for years in Law and Order, but he had easily thirty years on Broadway in musicals. I'd love to be able to dance like the cast of "Dirty Dancing." Your assignment for the weekend is to rent something that Sam Elliot has done, and watch it while you have a BIG bowl of popcorn! lol
Posted by Buffy | January 14, 2005 11:35 PM
Posted on January 14, 2005 23:35
You have a mean streak in you, eh, Buffy? A BIG bowl of popcorn, indeed!
Posted by Cop Car | January 15, 2005 12:38 PM
Posted on January 15, 2005 12:38
(snickering)
Posted by Buffy | January 15, 2005 2:22 PM
Posted on January 15, 2005 14:22