What fascinates us about the Minoan handled cup
It is hard to believe that this form is around 3,500 years old. Wide-brimmed, slenderly tapering, with a handle that rises elegantly upward: the Minoan handled cup appears so light and self-confident that it seems as if it were designed for the present day.
The special nature of the form
Its body tapers conically from a wide rim to a narrow base. This makes the cup appear almost as if it is floating. The vertically rising handle provides a clear contrast to the soft line of the body. Tension and lightness in a single form.
The XENIOS handled cup
We have preserved the conical body, the wide rim, and the finely shaped base. We have redesigned the handle—which in the original rises vertically—for modern use so that the cup rests comfortably in the hand. Whether for morning coffee, afternoon tea, or a cool drink in the evening: it is made for hot and cold beverages and is dishwasher safe. Handmade in Germany from high-quality stoneware.
A look back
The Minoans lived on Crete, where they created Europe's first advanced civilization, with palaces, writing, and far-reaching maritime trade. In the Palace of Knossos, which the British archaeologist Arthur Evans began uncovering in 1900, numerous such cups were found—a sign of festive gatherings. Minoan art loved the sea, and our model also features wave patterns.
Fittingly: according to legend, Zeus was born on Crete, the god who, as Zeus Xenios, watched over hospitality and gave our name its origin.