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Charleston Harbor, S.C. Deck And Officers Of U.S.S. Monitor Catskill; Lt. Comdr. Edward Barrett Seated On The Turret (U.S. Civil War) Black Coffee Mug

Charleston Harbor, S.C. Deck And Officers Of U.S.S. Monitor Catskill; Lt. Comdr. Edward Barrett Seated On The Turret (U.S. Civil War) Black Coffee Mug

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Regular price $17.99 USD
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Charleston Harbor, S.C. Deck And Officers Of U.S.S. Monitor Catskill; Lt. Comdr. Edward Barrett Seated On The Turret (U.S. Civil War) Black Coffee Mug

This is a historical photograph of Union Navy officers aboard the ironclad USS Catskill in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, taken around 1865, as the Civil War neared its end.

Visual Elements & Composition

The photograph is rendered entirely in black and white, with light grey and mid grey filling most of the frame and charcoal shadows pooling beneath the deck fittings. The armoured turret rises as a cylinder with a conical roof, and it anchors the scene. Lt. Comdr. Edward Barrett sits on top of it, with officers arranged across the rectangular deck below. Around them sit a boat on davits, a deck cannon on its wheeled carriage, and an anchor chain wrapped around a bollard. A small stamped mark, 3M12, is visible on the metal.

Meaning & Symbolism

The turret was the ship's primary defensive core and also its tactical vantage point, so Barrett's seat on it signals command. The officers gathered on the deck show the discipline and professional camaraderie needed to run specialised ironclad machinery during active blockade duty. USS Catskill was a Passaic-class monitor, built for coastal and harbour combat, and served with the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. The image is a primary record of the Union Navy's work in the contested waters off Charleston, and it preserves the human side of naval technological change.

Made for the Morning Mug

A mug is held close and turned slowly in the hand, so the scene wraps around the curve rather than sitting flat on a page. The turret's rounded silhouette echoes the mug's own cylinder, which means the ship's most important structure is the one you rotate toward you with your first sip. Give it to a history buff, a navy family member, or anyone who treats coffee as a ritual, and let them discover the officers on the deck one turn at a time.

Size

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Glossy black ceramic mugs in two practical sizes — 11 oz (≈330 ml) and 15 oz (≈440 ml). Comfortable C-handle, microwave- and dishwasher-safe, and manufactured to be lead- and BPA-free. Note: printed blacks may read slightly different from the mug’s base color.

These mugs are made from solid ceramic with a glossy glaze that gives a deep, even surface for printing. Sublimation printing embeds ink into the glaze so artwork sits smoothly on the mug rather than simply sitting on top — that means better resistance to fading and scratching during normal use.

They’re available in the classic 11-ounce size for everyday black coffee and tea, and a larger 15-ounce cup if you like extra room for milk, foam or a long pour. The C-shaped handle is wide enough for a secure grip and balances the mug well when full.

  • Material: 100% ceramic with a high-gloss finish for punchy, saturated results.
  • Sizes: 11 oz (≈330 ml) and 15 oz (≈440 ml) — choose your routine size.
  • Printing: sublimation process fuses color into the glaze for durable imagery.
  • Safety: lead- and BPA-free; meets common food-contact safety standards.
  • Design note: very dark artwork and the mug’s black base can produce subtle shade differences — add a thin lighter outline to ensure contrast if needed.

These mugs are at home in the kitchen, on the office desk, or tucked into a morning routine. They work for espresso shots, pour-overs, oat-milk lattes — you name it. The larger size is handy when you want a second cup’s worth without a refill.

  1. Daily use: fill with your preferred brew and sip — the mug handles hot liquids safely.
  2. Office-friendly: fits most standard mug warmers and sits securely on communal trays and kitchen counters.
  3. Gifting: packs well (wrap with a soft layer) and pairs nicely with coffee beans, tea tins, or a small box of biscuits.

Practical tip: for very dark designs, try a thin light border or a small margin so the artwork reads cleanly against the black ceramic.

These mugs are both microwave- and dishwasher-safe, but gentle habits extend the life of the print. We recommend dishwasher use on the top rack and milder cycles when possible.

Hand-washing is the friendliest option: warm water, mild dish soap, and a soft sponge. Avoid steel wool, harsh scouring pads, or blasting with extremely hot industrial cycles. And a quick reminder — don’t microwave an empty mug.

Two sizes: 11 oz (approx. 330 ml) and 15 oz (approx. 440 ml). The smaller cup is the familiar, everyday size; the larger one is for fuller pours and extra-creamy drinks.

Each mug’s mouth and height are proportioned so they’re easy to drink from and easy to clean. If you’re pairing with saucers or nesting in cabinets, expect the 15 oz to be slightly wider and taller than the 11 oz.

Size guide

All measurements are product dimensions in inches.

11 oz 15 oz
Height (in) 3.86 4.72
Diameter (in) 3.35 3.35
Diameter with handle (in) 4.72 5.12

Note: dimensions are nominal — small production tolerances may apply. If you need precise fitment (e.g., for nested storage or custom packaging), please allow a small margin.