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Mediterranean as of September 1 (1939) (Map) Black Coffee Mug

Mediterranean as of September 1 (1939) (Map) Black Coffee Mug

100 in stock

Regular price $17.99 USD
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Mediterranean as of September 1 (1939) - Black Mug Design

This design is a map of the Mediterranean basin fixed to a single day, September 1, 1939, and it lets that date do the talking.

Visual Elements & Composition

The Mediterranean fills the composition as a enclosed sea, with its surrounding coastlines and islands forming the main shapes. Nothing is decorated for effect. The geography is laid out plainly, and the title and date set in the print serve as the only text, so the eye moves from the coastlines to the dated heading and back. The restraint is the point: a clean cartographic page with no distractions, the way a reference chart is meant to be read.

Meaning & Symbolism

The date is the subject. On September 1, 1939, German forces invaded Poland, and the Second World War began in Europe. Maps of this kind capture a region at the moment before its lines of power were redrawn, and the Mediterranean, with its shipping lanes, colonies and coastal states, was one of the arenas that would soon be contested. The design treats geography and chronology as a single idea: where a place stands in time matters as much as where it sits on the page. It belongs to the family of historical cartography, where a date turns an ordinary map into a record.

Turned in the Hand

A mug is read differently from a wall print. You turn it slowly, a little at a time, so the map arrives in pieces as the coastline wraps around the curve and the date comes round to meet you. That suits this artwork. Its meaning depends on a single reference point, and a mug gives you one quiet moment each morning to look at it, the way a history buff might check a timeline over the first cup of the day.

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.