Description: Large red plastic pear shaped vessel with a black rubber base and lid. Hook shaped black rubber handle with grooves. Starbucks emblem prominently displayed in a silver circle located on the upper third of the vessel.

Construction: This object is fairly heavy and substantial. The outer layer is a clear, thick plastic, while the inner layer is a thinner solid yellow plastic. The rubber handle keeps the hand far from contact with the vessel. The lid screws in place, but the top remains movable. A small twist to the left and a hole appears. The Starbucks label and the words "Made in China" on the base suggest that it is factory produced. The information "patent pending" also on the base suggests that this design is in danger of being copied.

Speculation: This object was created as a vessel to contain objects (any that can fit) and seal them inside. The shape is round and pleasing, rather like a jug without a spout. The twistable lid creates a path for the contents to escape. The strong rubber handle suggests that this vessel is meant to be carried. Without the lid, the vessel resembles a jug, but with the lid, it becomes a jar with a handle. The color is bright and loud.

Provenance: This object is currently used to hold hot liquids and transport them from place to place. This vessel is often sealed and placed in a car while driving. It keeps liquids warm and fits in the cup holder of a car.

Significance: This vessel was clearly designed to transport its contents. The bright color suggests that this object gets noticed, thus making the presence of the brand name an effective advertisement.

The design is a curious mix of elements. As was mentioned above, the object combines a jug like appearance, reminiscent of the blue ceramic cup, with the jar like appearance of the commercial cup. The plastic is further reminiscent of the yellow cup. The object is thus a mix of Forty's "utopian" category of design and the "archaic".

The transportability of the vessel is again reflective of the value of convenience, but the plastic also suggests that this object is not for discarding. The person who uses this cup may be concerned with ecological issues and not wish to pollute by using disposable commercial mugs. This may account for the curious cross between the jug like appearance associated with domestic objects and the jar necessary for transport in public.