Hand Carved Curly Birch Kuksa with Twisted Leather Hanging Loop

A curly birch kuksa cup, hand carved in Lapland, traditionally salted and cured. For centuries the kuksa has been the drinking vessel of the Sami, the indigenous people of far northern Scandinavia. These are lightweight and sturdy, with better insulating properties than porcelain or enamel, which of course stops them freezing to lips during arctic winters — maybe not such a problem here, but the principle remains. Can be used for hot or cold drinks. Just rinse with cold water and dry after use, and occasionally (should it be required) sterilise by soaking overnight in a strong spirit of choice. The ultimate camping mug, but equally good at home. Curly birch is a variant of the plant species silver birch with a genetic defect that causes the tree to twist on the stem with curls. The annual rings are oriented incorrectly, which gives the wood a fiery appearance. The variant originally comes from Karelia in Finland and Russia. The curliness is passed on in up to 70% of all trees in the next generation. Capacity 150ml.