The Mugs
A brief history of potter Jim McBride and his 1970s Fabrik ceramics studio. Also: why do I love stoneware?
For the uninitiated, stoneware is a “rather broad term for pottery fired at a relatively high temperature.” This process makes the pottery non-porous and resistant to liquids, hence its popular application as tableware.
Jim McBride started the stoneware dinnerware manufacturer, Fabrik, in 1970/71 in Seattle.1 Jim worked at another studio, Pottery Northwest, until he could afford the mass-production equipment necessary to start up the factory. Fabrik’s work was distinctive, notable for its handles, earth-toned colors, wide rims, and simple glazing. Eventually, around 1983, Fabrik fell into bankruptcy after Jim and his wife, Kathryn, divorced.
A few weeks ago, I knew none of this. An OfferUp listing for “Vintage Coffee Mugs With Saucers” caught my eye, but I didn’t act on it due to being at thrifted-mug capacity. I enjoy a good joke mug (recently, a 1993 Big Dogs mug that reads “If you can’t run with the big dogs, stay on the porch!”), along with anything vintage, beautiful, or hand-thrown.
I returned to the listing over the proceeding days, the mugs and their sculptural handles popping into my consciousness at random. When this longing persists, I see it as permission to purchase. I messaged the owner and arranged delivery for later in the week.
To ensure I was paying a fair price, I ran a screenshot through Google reverse image search. The robot recognized them as Fabrik mugs in a pattern McBride called “Ptarmigan.” Ptarmigan, I learned, is a species of bird–but could very well be a subject in a Vonnegut book. Comps online were going for upwards of $150, so I felt validated in my $80 expense.
A nice man dropped them off and joked about never having delivered a box of mugs before, to which I replied, “This is a first for me too.” I had to play coy and pretend I didn’t know exactly what they were. Once upstairs, I immediately unboxed them and posted an Instagram story. Many friends generously liked and responded, wanting to know more about them. I cleaned one and made a cup of peppermint tea, sipped, and researched further. This is, for better or worse, an ideal evening for me.
The original Fabrik being long closed, I was surprised to find a Korean Instagram account2 in its name. 패브릭포터리 sells vintage Fabrik pieces and reproduces new versions, barely different in shape. It remains a mystery how this 1970s Seattle dinnerware factory made its way to modern-day Korea, but it's not hard to imagine the timeless, sculptural shapes and natural glazes resonating on Instagram. Interest in "mid-century" design, although wildly varied across decades, geographies, and product types, is at an all-time high.
Stoneware was popular dinnerware in the mid-century period, especially from the 1950s-1970s. Mass-produced stoneware, like Independence and Hearthside, is commonly found in thrift stores now.3
I’m drawn to stoneware as dinnerware because of its density and weight–the platonic ideal of how a plate should feel in the hand. No matter if mass-produced or hand-thrown, the product is sturdy and soft. Generally matte, earth-toned, and easily collectible, stoneware is a timeless addition to any kitchen.
Keep your eyes peeled on the next trip to the thrift store or your grandparents’ house, flip a piece over, look for the stamp. Maybe you’ll get lucky and find the Fabrik “f.”
I try to avoid the temptress that is “if I buy this, my life will change in this way.” I am too familiar with both the hedonic treadmill and how programmed I am to assign meaning to consumption. But every now and then, I think you should just buy the fucking mugs. Or whatever lingers in your brain. I now have a relationship to these objects, via Jim McBride and his brain and hands of 50 years ago. Each morning, I look upon them with joy. Hours of coffee with friends and time spent alone with these simple mugs and saucers await me. For that, I am grateful.
http://www.potters.org/subject02251.htm
https://www.instagram.com/fabrik_pottery/
http://www.laurelhollowpark.net/hlc/hearthside.html#:~:text=Hearthside%20by%20Homer%20Laughlin&text=First%20made%20in%201971%2C%20Hearthside,browns%20as%20the%20primary%20colors.