Surprising outcomes are often the best! Once upon a time, virtually unknown candidates or competitors were thought of as least likely to win. Not the case anymore. Whether on the racetrack, in the office or in the kitchen, dark horses have pleasantly been surprising us for generations and will for generations to come. Emma Bridgewater Pottery is made in England in the small Victorian English town of Stoke on Trent. Each piece is hand painted, hand finished and unique. All Emma Bridgewater Pottery is dishwasher safe and is even pretty likely to survive daily washing up in the hands of your children. Imperfections in positioning, graphic application or text of these hand sponge-printed mugs are part of their charm-- and are not considered defects.