New York-based designer Harry Allen has unveiled a unique ceramics collection that reimagines vintage door hardware as functional mug handles. Drawing on his early experiences with pottery and industrial design, Allen crafted a series of stackable mugs featuring handles cast from drawer pulls, cabinet hardware, and doorknobs sourced from mid-century and Art Deco pieces.

Allen, who studied industrial design at the Pratt Institute after an initial interest in ceramics, revisited clay as a medium in recent years to reconnect with hands-on studio work. For this collection, he created rubber and plaster molds from authentic hardware items obtained through eBay and salvage shops, including a notable Art Deco set linked to the original Waldorf Astoria hotel. Each handle is carefully slip-cast and applied to the ceramic vessels, blending historical objects with contemporary design.

The mugs are produced to order and offered exclusively through Allen’s website, with prices beginning at $396 for a pair. The designer emphasized his fascination with collecting and repurposing everyday objects, noting that “transferring something from one function or material to another makes you pay attention anew.” This approach reflects Allen’s ongoing interest in breathing new life into overlooked or discarded materials by transforming their context and form.