We invited four well-known “cup collectors” to talk about their obsession with mugs. These cups still play the role of daily drinking water, but they have been endowed with very personal emotions, like a partner who can talk to each other, satisfying daily beauty and companionship.
◆ 1. "Tea Cup"
Dondup | Dancer
Dondup studied dance in school since she was a child. After graduation, she left her hometown alone and went wild. Later in life, I noticed the impetuousness in my temperament, and began to consciously do anything that could calm myself down—sitting, meditating, burning incense, and drinking tea. Two years ago I renovated my first house and lived in a home like a "tea room".
/ Q & A
Q: Why do you like to collect tea cups?
A: I collect tea cups because I like to drink tea, and I have a mixed taste in tea drinking. Different teas will be matched with different cups. What’s interesting about teacups is that each cup is different because of the difference in kiln temperature and craftsmanship. I will choose different tea cups to match different teas, different materials, sizes, shapes, colors, the cup's cooling and temperature preservation, whether the cup can collect aroma, the comfort of the lips, the feel, the presentation of the tea soup in the cup, etc., slowly Take your time and try it out, and you'll be able to find the cup that best suits each type of tea.
▲ The number of various tea cups collected by Dundup has exceeded 40.
Q: Do you have any criteria for choosing a tea cup? What kind of tea cup do you have to buy?
A: Basically, there are not many criteria. If you like it, have a good reputation, and the price is affordable, you will get it. But if I come across a cup that won’t be mass-produced, I will definitely buy it. In particular, some potters only make a few pieces, and they are different every time. If you don’t buy them, you will never buy them again. This is a bit similar to girls’ obsession with “limited edition” bags.
▲ Different tea leaves use different cups. Dunzhu said that this is the "specialty" of drinking tea.
Q: Which one is your favorite?
A: My favorite is a 4,500 yuan wood-burning Ru porcelain. This kind of porcelain is difficult to fire, the yield is low, and the price of the glaze on the surface is also high, so it is very rare. I fell in love with it when I saw it in a friend's store. The opening is beautiful, the glaze color is warmer and more delicate, and it is durable and large in size. But at that time, 4,500 yuan was my monthly salary, so I made a lot of determination to buy it back. Home. At that time, I wanted to say that I can still make more money, but if I miss the cup, it will be gone. This money is just a way to accompany me.
▲ Dundup’s favorite Ru porcelain teacup.
◆ 2. "Nordic Cup"
Poseidon3|Display Trainer
Living alone in Beijing, just over 30 years old, Poseidon is enjoying the present moment "not too old" Not too childish" state. He said that he does not have much desire to express himself and spends most of his time at home "tossing around", but it is nothing more than "moving the cabinet here, moving the sofa there". After a lot of fussing, he will feel a little satisfied. Happy little pride. I love all basic styles, so most of the cups in my collection are basic.
/ Q & A
Q: Why do you like to collect Nordic brand cups?
A: I saw a movie called "Seagull Cafeteria" a long time ago. It tells the story of a Japanese woman who opened a restaurant in Finland and used food as the theme to warm up lonely souls. While watching the movie, I was deeply attracted by the tableware and cups in it. Later I learned that the cups in it were from the Finnish brand Iittala, which has a long history and exquisite craftsmanship.
▲ Among the many brands of Nordic water cups, Poseidon loves littala. This brand has a history of more than 100 years.
Q: Do you have any criteria when choosing a cup? What kind of cup do you have to buy?
A: I like cups with simple styles but exquisite workmanship. I think such cups can stay with me for a long time. It is a small item for daily use. Warmth and simplicity are the most important, so I will not buy anything too fancy. At first, I was obsessed with various ceramic mugs, tea cups and coffee cups. Recently, I like glass cups. The transparent and bright texture makes me feel happy.
I find that preferences change with time and the state of things at different times, so there is nothing that I must buy.
▲ Glass cups of different colors have different luster in the sun.
Q: What is your favorite cup?
A: My favorite mug is the white mug I use most often, which I also saw when watching "Seagull Canteen". What's special about it is that it's "not special", very simple and easy to use, and can hold all kinds of liquids. I use it to drink water, coffee, and milk. Although when I buy cups, I always give them a mission, which cup is for drinking something, and which cup is for entertaining guests, but the one I use most is the one that is most convenient.
▲ Poseidon’s favorite daily mug is also from littala.
◆ ?3. "Middle Ages Afternoon Tea Cup"
Said Ranranran |Administrative work
Ranran is 39 years old, but there is an 18-year-old girl living in her heart. I love fitness and cooking, and I like all the lively life. It is a daily routine to participate in the afternoon tea party and enjoy the lively atmosphere of the afternoon tea party.
/ Q & A
Q: Why do you like to collect afternoon tea cups?
A: The pace of urban life is too fast now. As a middle-aged mother, I have always yearned for the leisurely and idle lifestyle of the European countryside. Once I accidentally saw a photo of British afternoon tea on the Internet, and I was shocked to realize that this is the life I want. Later, I found the photographer who took the photo and started chatting with him about everything about afternoon tea. Only then did I realize that afternoon tea has so many particularities. The cups used for each afternoon tea can be different. Behind each afternoon tea cup is There is a unique story, and from then on I fell into the trap of collecting cups.
▲ Most of the medieval afternoon tea cups are gorgeous and bright, with complicated patterns.
Q: Do you have any criteria when choosing a cup? What kind of cup do you have to buy?
A: Many collectors pay great attention to the brand when choosing a cup because it will increase in value. I don’t have this pursuit at the moment. As long as the product is beautiful, my eyes will shine. My cups are all vintage. In the past, life was very slow and people's hearts were very quiet. I could slowly make embryos and sketch, so every vintage afternoon tea cup The quilts all have the warmth and beauty of handwork, especially some cups that have some charming flaws left by the years...
Q: Which cup is your favorite?
A: My favorite is a medieval cup with a hand-painted wild duck pattern. Because the general patterns of afternoon tea cups are mainly flowers and plants, with few animal or character themes, it is very special. Moreover, its hand-drawn lines are very smart. As soon as I saw it, I felt that this cup belonged to me.
Nowadays, many collectors will display the cups they bought in display cabinets. I don’t like this very much. Every cup I use is highly used, depending on the weather or my own. My mood will affect my choice of afternoon tea cups that day, so I won’t treat a certain cup specially. After all, cups are still daily necessities, so just treat them with a normal attitude.
▲ "Hand-painted" is also one of the reasons why medieval cups are attractive because they are unique.
◆ ?4. "No limit on styles"
Li Pili | Freelance writer
Married housewife, freelance writer, keen to share daily trivial matters heavy users of social networks. Li Pili said that her expectation for herself is to be a free-spirited and interesting person, to hug soft dreams tightly and ignore the hard reality.
Q & A
Q: Why do you like collecting cups?
A: Actually, I don’t collect cups. I also use them in my daily life. These more than 100 cups are not just decorations. I started buying cups 7 or 8 years ago when my parents and I lived in Guangzhou. Later, when I came to Beijing and started my own family, I became more unscrupulous. Now I am actually a little more restrained. Sometimes appreciation is enough and there is no need to own. The unit price of the cups I buy is not very high, usually around one or two hundred yuan. Usually some food collaborations require shooting, juice, wine, etc. need different cups to match. It is a legitimate reason to buy, and I My husband was more supportive, and we went together to pick out a beautiful sideboard specifically to hold cups.
▲ Li Pili’s cup storage cabinet, looking at the fire-king.
Q: Do you have any criteria when choosing cups? What kind of cup do you have to buy?
A: When I travel, I like to visit lifestyle shopping stores. If these stores also have self-operated brands and happen to have cups, I will definitely buy them. For example, in Seoul, I bought this MMMG that I really like.
Q: What is your favorite cup?
A: The ceramic German Krug beer mug is my husband’s favorite, and it was also the beginning of our collection of mugs during our travels. He bought it at first sight because of its simple and solid texture, and we both use it to drink water now.
Found MUJI is my favorite buyer branch of MUJI. The products are all good things that designers look for around the world, and they are brought back directly or designed. In the words of Naoto Fukasawa, they are "the world's best." There are already many excellent daily design objects with a long history. If we re-give them new definitions and values ??and let them continue to be used, it will be a sustainable environmental attitude. "And I like it at every stage. It’s not the same. What I like most recently is this rotating spirit cup. I often use it to drink a glass of wine at night in summer.
▲ The simple-looking Krug beer mug is also suitable for drinking water.
▲ Li Pili’s favorite rotating spirit cup has a special shape and a very charming glass texture.