We have this large, bulbous mug made by Lindner in Franconia. A similar model with an emblem in navy blue was used by officers in the Russian naval forces in the 1950s, and the few surviving originals have since become coveted collector'sobjekten items. We don't think this cup is indestructible - but it is thick-walled enough to keep hot drinks warm for longer. And if a rough wind blows through the sea of files and the desk takes a knock, its tapered shape may ensure that nothing spills over the edge of the cup any time soon.

The productivity of the Lindner porcelain factory in Küps, Upper Franconia, is remarkable: there is probably nothing that it has not already formed from porcelain. A glance around the Lindner halls immediately confirms this assumption. Since the company was founded in the late 1920s, all porcelain molds have been carefully stored there. The inventory has grown to over 30,000 porcelain molds. Many of them already have collector's value; some are in traditional design, others are timelessly modern, and all can be used again at any time if the customer wishes. Lindner is not impressed or even limited by categories. From thimbles and piggy banks to coffee and table service to bathroom accessories, everything imaginable can be found in the assortment - and is supplemented annually by novelties.

This extensive product range has not changed Lindner's high quality standards. Where other manufacturers rely on automated processes in favor of high volumes, Lindner continues to build on traditional craftsmanship, inherent in the experience and know-how of generations. Instead of shortening or even combining the firing processes, the raw mass of kaolin, feldspar and quartz is given the time it needs to become high-quality porcelain in around 100 working steps. The first firing alone at 900 to 1,000 °C takes a good 20 hours. After the body has been glazed, it is fired a second time at 1,400 °C, again for several hours. Only then does a "white gold" come out of the kiln that actually deserves this name. Anyone who treats and stores it as carefully as Lindner does his work forms will enjoy it for a lifetime.

Not suitable for dishwasher.