This is an extremely rare Knoll coffee mug that was given to me by a good friend, Jen Kuroki. She found it at a thrift store in portland, OR, back when one could still find gems like this at thrift stores and not vintage or antique shops. Since it was a gift, I have no idea what she paid for it, but since this was about 6 years ago, I’m going to guess, around a dollar. I am to this day still amazed that she would even part with it.

In all my years of scouring flea markets and ebay, I have never, ever come across another. I assume it was created as a promotional item, and only produced in a very small run. The large Helvetica logo that wraps around the mug was difficult to photograph, but everyone is more than familiar with this timeless, orange word mark. Unfortunately, I do not own any Knoll furniture as it is not ‘within’ my reach. Owning this mug is the equivalent of wearing a Gucci t-shirt. It’s a tiny taste of luxury in the form of an everyday, utilitarian object. I’m letting the world know what i want and isn’t that the first step to obtaining the unreachable, by voicing your desires? KNOLL i say.

i have had run-ins at the office with co-workers about unknowingly using their personal coffee mug. My initial reaction was always ‘it’s just a mug. i don’t see your name on it’. being the proud owner of this knoll mug, I now fully understand their contention with me accidentally using their coffee mug.

The closest thing I could find is on this Japanese website, but it doesn’t even come close to rivaling the simplicity of the perfect union of the Knoll logo with the oversized, white coffee mug.

Let me know if anyone out there knows the history of this mug.

And no, it is not for sale.