{HISTORY}

Soup season is here! There's no better way to embrace the cool weather months than with a pretty stoneware soup mug wrapped in the earthy shades of autumn. These two feature orange flowers and a deep, dark olive color palette dotted with brown flecks, iridescent brown leaves, and a brown handle.

Made in Japan in the 1970s-1980s for Otagiri Mercantile Company, these two mugs brought all the warmth to the kitchen and the belly thanks to their large size and short stature - a design that made them perfect for hand warming while also enjoying a hot beverage or a warm meal.  

Founded in California in 1947 by Japanese-American businessman, James Goro Otagiri (1900-1977), Otagiri Mercantile Company initially started as an export company sending care packages to post-war Japan. Evolving over the next several decades into one of the most well-known giftware companies in the United States, Otagiri flipped their initial business idea and began importing a wide range of decorative and functional home decor and kitchenware items from Japan to America.  Many of the O.M.C imports were hand-made and handcrafted by Japanese artisans including these stoneware mugs.

Popular during the 1970s, soup servers in this style with their large diameter, and short stature were mugs, bowls, and hand warmers all in one. A space saver and also a dual purpose dish that could accommodate anything from serving a simple cup of hot coffee to a helping of hearty winter stew or a comforting casserole, stoneware soup mugs were accommodating servers in the kitchen for a wide variety of purposes. 

We love to tote stoneware of this size and shape along on autumn picnics, or put them to work out by the fire pit or the grill as servers for soup, stew, or hot beverages. They are also lovely companions for down days when you are snowed in and lounging around enjoying your favorite book or binge-watching your way through the season.  All is fun and festive (and very, very  cozy) when it comes to these two.

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

• Matching set of two
• Colors include dark olive, pumpkin, black, espresso, and nutmeg
• Unmarked Otagiri

{CONDITION}

In beautiful vintage condition, these mugs contain no chips, cracks, spots, or staining. The glaze is shiny throughout, and both the interior and exterior are clean and bright. 

{SIZE}

 Each mug measures 4.25" inches (diameter) x 2.75" inches (height) and weighs just over 1 lb. 

{DONATION SUPPORTED}

These heirlooms give back! 20% of the proceeds from the sale of these mugs will be donated to rare.org - an international non-profit committed to protecting, promoting, and preserving global foodways, communities, and the environment through self-sustainability and conservation.