tulip espresso and coffee cups by dezso ekler for alessi
designed by dezso ekler for alessi, the tulip cups are porcelain and come as sets of 2 with saucers. according to the designer: "I wanted to create cups that lent themselves to many different variations. And I realized that flowers embodied the most suitable form for my purpose. But not only that, they also offered precisely the form necessary for the shaping of a cup; the same form that the ancient Chinese discovered… in the cosmos. I have designed twelve variations in all, and of these twelve “star-flowers”, the tulip is the first”.

mocha cups: 3 1/2 oz – Ø 2 1/4" – h 2 1/2"; saucers: Ø 4 3/4"
teacups: 7 oz – Ø 3 1/4" – h 2 1/2"; saucers: Ø 6"

Born in Hungary in 1953. ekler studied urban sociology and worked for some years with his teacher and mentor Imre Makovecz. He was a fundamental figure in organic Hungarian architecture based on the Rudolf Steiner school of thought. His projects are heavily influenced by an anthroposophic viewpoint and develop in a non-programmed complex manner to finally arrive at highly surprising solutions. One of his best-known and most significant works is the Harangodi Folk Art Camp at Nagykálló (1986-91).