Now, 16 artists, designers and makers from across the world have come on board for The Collaborative Jug project. It sees them not only put their spin on the piece but pay homage to Robert Foster, the designer of the jug and founder of Fink & Co who died four years ago.

The 16 one-off pieces will go to auction later this month, with a portion of proceeds going to Canberra Headspace, as well as to the contributing artists.

"It was a way for good colleagues of his and people we had worked with over the years for them to pay homage to him," Foster's wife and Fink director Gretel Harrison says.

"Embedding something about their artistic practice into the Fink jug and then the idea was never for us to raise money. It was more the idea of the collaboration with people and coming up with different ideas and going through the whole process.

"But we've decided that through the proceeds we want to give back to mental health. I have two teenage girls who have suffered quite a bit with mental health after Robert's accident and I really wanted to give to Headspace."

The idea of collaborating with other artists on the Fink jug first came about a decade ago after Foster had released a series of jugs that Harrison describes as "crazy graffiti, almost Blue Poles jugs". But while the idea was talked about, it never eventuated.

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When COVID-19 hit a few months ago, Harrison was looking for a project that involved the art community and decided to launch the project into action.

"Everyone was like 'wow, that's such a great idea'," she says.

"I know for some people it's been quite an emotional thing and I think you get that in some of the statements that people have written about working on their jug.

"Emotionally doing something with Robbie's jug and not wanting to ruin it but wanting to pay homage to him at the same time has been difficult. So far, everyone has done some really amazing things.

"We've been working with sculptors, glass artists, silversmiths, jewellers, our graphic designer as well."

The artists, makers and designers who have come on board project are Alex Asch, Alison Jackson, Bengt Cannon, Brian Tunks, Cesar Cueva, Charles Butcher, Cobi Cockburn, Geoff Hinchcliffe, Harriet Schwarzrock, Jess Higgins, Louise Scrivener, Marie Hagerty, Mathew Curtis, Scott Chaseling, Tom Skeehan and Xanthe Gay.

Every day Fink focuses on a different contributing artist on its Facebook page, posting the profile, image and examples of their work to help boost their profile. It is also an example of the diverse range of work from artists, designers and makers, shedding light on just how different each jug will be once they are revealed.

"The results are insanely different because they've all come in from different mediums and different backgrounds, their take is all quite different," Harrison says.

Follow Fink & Co on Facebook or go to finkdesign.com to find out details on the auction when they are released.