We searched for the perfect cup for a long time.

We wandered into tiny shops, big chain stores, outlets full of discontinued merchandise, coffeehouses, the new tea places that suddenly seem to be everywhere ... We were focusing on not just appearance, but the weight, the way a cup felt in our hands. We kept wandering around stores while carrying a cup, and then we would eventually set it down and walk away, dissatisfied.

But then we saw these six-ounce cups in The Gardener on Fourth Street in Berkeley. Hand-formed and glazed in soft earthy hues by an artisan ceramicist, they’re unique and lovely. As Viva Terra points out, they fit perfectly into the palm.

Mission accomplished.

Viva Terra sells them in sets of five for $59.