Wood: Spalted English Sycamore - Acer Pseudoplatanus

Capacity: 5.5-6oz - around 150ml

Finished in Linseed Oil

Hand carved by Alex with Axe, Gouge & Knife

Only traditional hand tools were used in the making of this product - No Bandsaw or Sandpaper.

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After my teaching and research trip to New Zealand and Australia this autumn, I was in London for a month. I’ve been focusing on a new direction of my kuksa designs. My main focus has been functionality and the drinking experience. I find a lot of cups lack a bit of finesse and ease of use. If you’ve followed my work you can see distinct, and even subtle changes that make them great for sipping your favorite brew.

While in London I was gifted a beautiful sycamore tree which is harder maple tree that is great for kuksas. The grains are just beautiful, not to mention the striking spalted patterns unique to each cup, and the ripple in the grain that shimmers when you turn the cup in the light.

I’ve been really dialing in my deep cavernous undercut rims, and also been on a stripe kick lately. Faceted flutes catch light in a different way, and also feel quite tactile to touch. This batch took a lot more focus and attention to being able to pull of a certain formula I’ve been working on, and this particular tree seemed to be a lot harder to carve than my normal timbers. Often with harder timbers you get much more polished cuts off the knife.

Since this is a new type of timber, I’m selling these cups as is. They are all tested but I can’t guarantee them like I would my normal timber types. But with that said, I’ve been using a cup from this batch with no problems.

Kuksa Care -

All my cups are made to last and I’ve been using my favorite kuksa for over seven years of daily hard use. My cups are made from raw natural materials, and are carved with the best of care, but they are a natural material. I personally drink coffee out of mine but I should note that most cups I’ve seen out there are not made for hot liquids so you can make your own decision if you want to take that risk. But with that said, repairs are quick and easy, and can be done by you at home. You can message me about that if for some rare chance you have a problem. All of my cups however are tested with water around 190f.

Some tips -

If it’s too hot for your mouth, it may be too hot for the cup. I don’t recommend pouring boiling water straight into the cup, most tea drinkers have a secondary vessel that cools the drink before pouring in delicate tea cups.Don’t leave liquid in them over night, and don’t pop them into the dishwasher.More detailed care instructions will be emailed to you after purchase.