Waterville Mug Mystery

February 5, 2021 7:43 AM

My wife's favorite mug was accidentally knocked off a table by our 14 month old and I would like to try to find a replacement. Details inside.

The mug was a favorite for aesthetic reasons as well as sentimental. Her sister bought this mug several years ago at Barrel's Community Market in Waterville, Maine. I live in Wisconsin and am trying to track down the person or persons who (hopefully still) make these lovely ceramic mugs.
Here's a picture of the ill fated mug, and the artist's mark on the bottom. Can anyone identify the maker so I may contact them?

posted by sewellcm to Shopping (16 answers total)

Response by poster: I forgot to add that Barrel's Community Market appears to have closed for good in 2015.
posted by sewellcm at 7:44 AM on February 5, 2021

If you still have the pieces, consider finding someone near you who does kintsugi which is a Japanese method of repairing ceramics and similar materials in an aesthetically pleasing way. Not sure that will work on load-bearing parts of the handle but worth considering at least as a backup.
posted by atrazine at 8:00 AM on February 5, 2021 [2 favorites]

Maybe contact an organization for Maine pottery? I would think it's a pretty closeknit community and someone might recognize the artist's mark.

Example 1
posted by HeyAllie at 8:13 AM on February 5, 2021

Best answer: My brother-in-law informs me that David Gulak, who owned Barrel's, now owns this restaurant, and that if you contact them, they'll probably be able to put you in touch with him and solve your mystery.
posted by bowbeacon at 8:17 AM on February 5, 2021 [12 favorites]

Only the handle's broken off? I'd try epoxy first. In my experience, this could be an easy repair (especially if the user avoids lifting the mug by the handle, afterwards).
posted by Rash at 8:28 AM on February 5, 2021

Response by poster: I've considered trying to glue the handle, but I am not thrilled with this idea since I'd be hesitant to trust this hefty mug being full of scalding hot coffee.
posted by sewellcm at 8:40 AM on February 5, 2021

So far all I've found is this vase on ebay by a "mystery artist" who seems to be our "NM." It's dated '96, so they've been at it for awhile and might be a known quantity to someone more keyed-in to the central Maine pottery scene :)
posted by wreckingball at 9:23 AM on February 5, 2021 [1 favorite]

(Also I appreciate your concern vis-à-vis repairs and hot coffee — in our cheap and sentimental household, damaged crockery usually ends up holding a plant)
posted by wreckingball at 9:26 AM on February 5, 2021 [1 favorite]

Wondering if other area potters might recognize the mark. Here’s Edgecomb Potters, Unity Pond Pottery, just a couple I found online.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 11:05 AM on February 5, 2021 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: This is great, folks -- I've sent out a few e-mails and will post an update if I make any headway. Friend of mine also helping me look found The Marks Project which wasn't ultimately helpful in this search but is cool none the less.
posted by sewellcm at 11:24 AM on February 5, 2021 [1 favorite]

In addition to TWinbrook8's suggestions, there is a store in Portland called Maine Potters Market that might recognize the mark. (Also, Edgecomb has this mug, so they may indeed be a good resource to ask if they recognize your broken mug.) We reuse mugs with broken handles as things like pen and pencil holders, or for kitchen stuff, etc..
posted by gudrun at 11:33 AM on February 5, 2021 [1 favorite]

If you're unable to trace the potter to get a replacement, then how about this one (the Marine colour option has a similar colour palette).
posted by essexjan at 12:24 PM on February 5, 2021

Best answer: It was likely "Meaders Stoneware," which searching links to Nancy Meader. That would match your "nm" artist's mark.

I could not find a dedicated online presence, but you may find more if you have a FB account (I don't). It does look like they are selling goods at the Riverside Farm Market and Cafe in Oakland, Maine (where the potter is based out of).
posted by neda at 5:21 PM on February 5, 2021 [9 favorites]

Best answer: oh wow neda! There's the very mug, third shelf from the bottom in this photo from the Riverside Farm website.
posted by wreckingball at 1:01 PM on February 6, 2021 [6 favorites]

Response by poster: You are all incredible! I have e-mailed Riverside Farm. The contact page says they are closed for the winter but maybe they'll be willing to ship a mug out to me. This has been quite the journey -- thank you all so much! I will of course update with a final outcome when it is known to me.
posted by sewellcm at 5:46 AM on February 8, 2021 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: FYI bowbeacon I did e-mail the restaurant but I wouldn't be shocked if they were a bit suspicious of my intentions. Tried to make the story sound reasonable, but telling this David fellow that I found his name from a stranger's brother-in-law on an internet forum that looks like it is from 1995 may have been a little off putting.
posted by sewellcm at 5:49 AM on February 8, 2021 [1 favorite]