A couple of weeks ago, I sold a mug to a co-worker. When I delivered it, he excitedly picked the mug up and grabbed the handle. He looked at me and smiled, “Wow! I can fit three fingers through the handle, that’s good!” It was then that I realized this guy has huge hands. He stands about 6′2″ tall, and is just generally a big-boned guy. I bet he seldom, if ever, comes across a cup or mug with a handle that he can get all of his fingers through.

I remember that when I gave my Dad a mug for his birthday in March, he comfortably fit two fingers through the handle. I could stick all four fingers through that same handle. I don’t know why the light didn’t come on that day, but it didn’t. After the occurrence with my co-worker, I started paying closer attention to the hands of the people I came in contact with, in all of my different walks of life (only a potter would understand!) and realized there are a lot of men out there with large hands who might appreciate a mug with a handle made to their size.

So this week, I set out to make some man-sized mugs. I threw larger mugs than I normally do, and affixed wide strap handles to them. Now, I can fit my entire hand through these handles in the leather-hard stage. I am anxious to see how much shrink I get out of them. When they’re finished, I am going to take one in to my co-worker to see how it fits his hand.