First designed over 60 years ago, the Russel Wright Residential Collection is crafted from durable, shatterproof melamine. This cup and saucer transitions well to outdoor dining in warmer months.

Melamine cups and saucers from bergenhouse, $10.

Anders calls the Mine cup and saucer set by Anna Kraitz "a sculpture that can be used for drinking coffee or tea."

Parsons School of Design alum Can Yalman’s work wanders from product and sculptural installations to boat design. His Pisa or whirling dervish-like Tearend tea cup and saucer appears to tilt dizzily while keeping a perfect balance.

During his residency last August, Belgian fashion designer Dirk van Saene made Flintstones-esque Wilma cups and saucers, priced from $60.

Either as a companion to her new tea kettle or as a stand alone gift, we love these hand-crafted earthenware cups by Chicago-based Susan Dwyer. They've been individually dipped in yellow rubber, giving them a bit of grip and a burst of bright color.

Johanna Lowe of Martyn George loves to use enamelware mugs for making individual pies and panna cotta when entertaining. Hers are vintage, but we love this set from Best Made Company. $32 for a set of two

Como espresso cup ($11.95) and saucer ($9.95) by Paola Navone Only at Crate & Barrel.

Ceramic cups are a tactile and sophisticated riff on the French style latte bowl. In a pinch, these curved minimalistic, yet tactile cups by Morijana could do double-duty for cereal as well.

COPPER MEASURING CUPS $19 Portion control. Made in India, these shiny Copper Measuring Cups are as functional in a kitchen as they are beautiful, when hung on a hook.

Cup Set by Yield, $42 at yielddesign.co Fastened together with a handmade leather strap, this set of two stainless steel cups is a smart, reusable choice for picnics and dining alfresco.

POEM CUP AND SAUCER Sitting with a notebook in one hand and cup of coffee in another is about as common a cafe sight as four-dollar lattes. Enter the poem cup, saucer, notebook, and pen—made for the coffee shop set and hardly a necessity, but we love the whimsical design and the retro seafoam green hue.

The Raimond Zafu Pendant is a sculptural fixture inspired by the pure beauty of mathematics—it was created to be both systematic and organic, and resembles a star-filled sky when illuminated.

Tokyo-born Jonah Takagi combines innovative style and steadfast utility in his design of the MatterMade F/K/A Table Lamp. Initially inspired by a saucepan, the shade is made from powder-coated steel. Three legs extend at its base allowing it to stay remain stable— even when placed on uneven ground.

Jansen+Co Espresso Mug and Saucer Made of high quality ceramic, these mugs are perfect for serving that little bit of espresso at the end of a fabulous meal. They are a beautiful combination of industrial production and hand finish. Their shape is classic with twist and is available in bright colors and urban tones. Find this item at the Dwell Store.

Atomium egg cup by Christian Ghion for Alessi.

With an organic aesthetic, the ceramic Morijana cups are minimalistic yet tactile. Offered in pleasing neutral hues, these curved cups are the perfect vessel for tea, coffee, or freshly squeezed juice and double as serving bowls for your favorite condiments or a dessert course.

From Yield Design Co., the Solid Copper Cup is an elegant drinking vessel that features a simple cylindrical shape that makes it stackable and versatile. The choice of material for the cup is not only an aesthetic one, but also practical. Copper is a naturally insulating and antimicrobial material that makes it functional for a variety of liquids and occasions.

A super minimal World Cup calendar helps us keep up with the schedule.

These thermo cups are designed with function and practicality in mind. With an insulating interior, the thermo cup keeps hot beverages warm, while the outer layer stays cool to the touch. The lid, which keeps contents warmer longer, can also double as a saucer.

Available in the Dwell store, these Nest 9 Plus polypropylene and plastic nesting measuring cups by Morph for Joseph Joseph are durable and suited for precise and colorful cooks.

Ears Cup, Éstudio Manus

Kiddush cup: Holds the ceremonial wine over which the kiddush blessing is recited.

This inset photograph of a circle of sandstone and porcelain cups contains the sober blacks and whites of Besengez's Flemish home.

In Besengez's porcelain 'Cup Town,' small figures draw attention to the architectural structuring of everyday objects.

This Saucer Pendant showcases the Criss Cross technique used in many Bubble Lamps. Other Criss Cross Styles include Ball, Pear, and Cigar.

The courtyard of Kurath's Tatami residence, a poem in prefab simplicity.

Crinkle Espresso Cups by Bialetti, $25 from bialettishop.comFor an espresso aficionado, Bialetti's porcelain cups are a wallet-friendly option. Pair with Blue Bottle's Espresso Medley Subscription, from $17.25 per pound, to ensure the vessels are put to good use.

Tin Cup's in St. Paul, Minnesota.

"Sure, enamel tin cups do well in the woods on camping trips, but they’re also great for preparing individual pot pies or panna cotta at home. The versatile Enamelware is conducive to baking and freezing."

Solid Copper Cup, $21 From water to a Moscow Mule, this copper cup from Yield Design Co. is a cup that everyone will want to sip from. It is made from solid copper, and is naturally insulating—the perfect device for keeping cocktails cool.

The porcelain set is meant to be mixed and matched at will. From top to bottom: “Black Almond,” “Tissage Cup,” Triangle Walks” and “Howls in the Night Cup” coffee mugs, stacked on “Hats off for Mr. Squirrel Saucer.”

For Dad’s office, the Cup Table Lamp is an unexpected multitasker. In addition to its primary function as a dimmable LED lamp, the aptly named light includes a storage cup at the base of the lamp for pens, pencils, or other knickknacks.

"Despite its initial success, Pyrex sales began slowing down in the 1920s. Pyrex was a borosilicate glass, expensive to manufacture due to its higher melting temperatures, and, as a result, priced more as a luxury purchase, not easily affordable by the masses. It wasn’t until Corning developed an automated production process in the 1930s that prices on Pyrex dropped and sales were able to rebound." Pyrex Flameware Six-Cup Percolator, made by Corning Glass Works, 1939-1951.

Kaiser's red cups are a study in contrasts between fluid bodies and textured bases, glossy and matte surfaces. The porcelain vessels were dipped in red slip and fired, changing in color to mottled pink. The interiors are glazed with glossy blue. His Kangen oribe cups employ the same oribe copper glaze, but each one reacts differently with colored engobes to produce very different shades, "especially when fired in strong reduction."

A stack of porcelain Krum cups.