'Flying Saucers' Coffee Cups

Rare coffee cups 'Flying Saucers', created by artist Sem Schanzer in the early 1990s as part of the artists' collective, l'Anverre.

The cups come in different sizes, colours and finishes. There are porcelain and ceramic cups, with glossy and matte finishes, in black, white and cream-coloured variations. The cups have been produced by several manufacturers, Villeroy & Boch, l'Anverre Royal Boch and l'Anverre's own production line.

These coffee cups renew the everyday ritual of drinking coffee. They bring us closer to a childlike play, by letting us navigate on board of these flying saucers in a dream world.

Sem Schanzer, a self taught artist, was active in several fields, from sculptures and glassware to installations. He remains unattached to a specific artistic movement. This versatility is to be seen in his many art works. In 1986, he founded the artists' collective l'Anverre, an interdisciplinary group established in Antwerp. As the driving force behind the group, he is also called Sem de l'Anverre. The collective shares an artistic and philosophical idea, striving to create deeper meaning in a time where technology and science seem to bring us further away from our direct reality. United by nature and their commitment to culture and gender diversity, the collective has achieved international recognition.

The glaze of the cups may develop a craquelé pattern — a fine network of lines that appears as the material ages. This gradual change is part of the cup’s organic nature and contributes to a quietly wabi-sabi aesthetic, where gentle imperfections and signs of use are appreciated as elements of authenticity.

The cups are sold in sets of 6. Prices vary from 95 to 150 euro.