MAKOTO Floating Teacups by Carsten Gollnick for blomus

MAKOTO Floating Teacups by Carsten Gollnick for blomus — Handleless stoneware cups on a floating pedestal, in espresso, coffee and tea sizes and two matte glazes.

Part of MAKOTO, Carsten Gollnick’s Japanese-inspired stoneware for the German design house blomus, made in Portugal.

The Design Story

Gollnick drew MAKOTO cups the way Japanese teacups are made: without a handle, held in both hands, with a foot that lifts the cup off the table. The result is a small, quiet object that turns coffee or tea into a pause. Gollnick, born in 1966, has run his own studio in Germany since 1997 and has drawn on Japanese design for his whole career. He works by a simple rule taken from that tradition: no object outranks another, since even the smallest piece has a purpose. More than 100 products and awards from iF, the German Design Award and Red Dot have come out of that studio.

Why You’ll Love It

Holding a warm cup in both hands is half the pleasure, and the matte glaze feels soft under the fingers. The three sizes stack into a neat little tower on a shelf. Moonbeam looks like the surface of the moon; Elephant Skin is smooth and calm. Pair them with the MAKOTO tray for a small tea or espresso service.

Made for Real Life

Dishwasher and microwave safe, according to blomus. Our advice: let very hot drinks cool for a moment before lifting a handleless cup. Each piece is unique: small variations appear during firing and give every piece its character. Pairs well with the tray saucer, steel double-wall cups, pedestal plates.

Product Details

Where It Shines

It looks at home on a weekend tea tray, at the end of a dinner party with espresso, on a coffee bar at home or in a café.

Questions We Hear Most

Which MAKOTO cup is right for a latte?

The 9.5 fl oz tea cup; it’s the widest of the three. The 7.3 fl oz coffee cup suits a cappuccino or flat white.

Why don’t MAKOTO cups have handles?

They follow Japanese teacup tradition: you hold the cup itself, which makes drinking slower and more deliberate.

Can I mix MAKOTO Moonbeam and Elephant Skin cups?

Yes, and it looks great: the light, textured Moonbeam and the smooth gray Elephant Skin were designed as a pair.

What interiors suit MAKOTO cups?

Japandi, Scandinavian, wabi-sabi and minimalist spaces, but they’re just as happy in a busy family kitchen.

Are MAKOTO cups a good gift?

Yes, especially a pair of tea cups with the MAKOTO tray for a tea or coffee lover.

When will my MAKOTO cups ship?

They usually leave within 2–3 business days of your order.

For the Trade

Setting tables for a restaurant, a boutique hotel or a client’s home? Members of the LoftModern Trade Program (interior designers, architects, hospitality buyers, home stagers and commercial buyers) receive trade pricing, up to 20% off retail on eligible brands, plus concierge support for quantities, stock checks and lead times. Apply once with your business details; we reply by email with your account.

Why We Love It

Every piece is a little different from the kiln, and the floating base turns an everyday table into a composition. From a small town in Germany’s old steel region, the Blome family has gone from bicycle parts (1921) to metal gifts (1961) to the design label blomus (2000), still family-run in its fourth generation. LoftModern is an authorized blomus retailer.

Shipping Info