Would you like a custom mug with an animal of your choice?

This listing is for one stoneware cup with handle, in a shape similar to the mugs pictured.
For more vertical custom cups, please go here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1526349649/custom-order-pottery-mug-with-animal

I will make the animal of your choice on the rim near the handle. It can be inside the cup facing out, or outside the cup facing in. It can be a pet or nearly any animal. However, no animals with thin fragile projections like antennae as they would break. The animal will be approximately 1" long.

Together we can discuss your animal, placement, your preferences.

The mug will be thrown on the pottery wheel by hand, and have pulled handles as seen in photos. The little animal on each is hand formed from the same stoneware as the dish, bisque fired, then hand painted with nontoxic underglazes. When the coloured underglaze has dried, I paint over it with a clear glaze, and put it on the unfired glazed dish.

When the glazes of both the animal and the dish melt during the cone 6 glaze firing, and then crystallize to glass form, they are permanently melded as one.

For colours of glazes, please take a look at the glaze gallery listing I have made https://www.etsy.com/listing/1526965507/glaze-choices-for-custom-pottery-ceramic as well as my other ceramics for combinations I am able to make. If you have a request of colour, we can discuss what I have available.


The client will pay for the custom order before work begins, and the artist will keep the client abreast of the project at each stage: throwing on the wheel, formation of the small animals, bisque firing, underglaze painting of the animal, choice of glazes and application, glaze firing, and finished project, via Etsy messages and photos. The client will be expected to approve or provide feedback within a reasonable time, or depending on the stage of the project, the artist will choose either to delay the project until appropriate approval is given, or to proceed as planned, depending upon the necessity of the client's input.


The mug will be approximately 4" (10cm) diameter at rim, and 3.25" (8.5cm) tall. It will hold approximately 1 cup (225ml). There will be slight variations as they are individually handmade and shrinkage involved during drying and firing. Individual variations of screens and lighting may affect the look of the colour compared to the actual item. Slight surface imperfections in the body and glaze are part of the unique handmade quality of these one of a kind pieces and are to be expected and embraced.


The process should take approximately 6-10 weeks more or less, depending on how it proceeds. The client is advised there may be additional delays if there are mishaps in the process which necessitate redoing part or all of the piece.
A final photo of the finished project will be sent before the final item is shipped.

Being a custom project, refunds will only be given upon artist's failure to complete the order as requested.


Tooled foot, signed and dated by the artist, Leanne Franson 2023.


These cups are boiling water, microwave and dishwasher friendly. However the finish will last longer if not exposed to harsh dishwasher detergents and washed by hand instead.

All ceramics are fragile if knocked or dropped. They are also subject to heat shock: Do not take ceramics directly from cold and subject them to hot, and vice versa. For example, do not take this bowl from the freezer and put in the oven, or pour ice water into it when it hot. It is perfectly fine to put hot soup or meals into it when room temperature, or heat it from room temperature in the microwave or a cool oven.

It is medium fire (cone 6) stoneware, and if treated like your other ceramic dinnerware, should last for generations.

Please take a look at my other pottery on offer. If you like the wee animals,, you might love my miniature porcelain animal figurines, jewelery, and other ceramics adorned with tiny animals.

*** I recommend tracked shipping, which comes with $100Cdn insurance ***