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Portrait Of Commander Matthew F. Maury, Officer Of The Confederate Navy (U.S. Civil War) Black Coffee Mug

Portrait Of Commander Matthew F. Maury, Officer Of The Confederate Navy (U.S. Civil War) Black Coffee Mug

100 in stock

Regular price $17.99 USD
Regular price Sale price $17.99 USD
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Portrait Of Commander Matthew F. Maury, Officer Of The Confederate Navy (U.S. Civil War) Black Coffee Mug

A seated Matthew Fontaine Maury looks out from a black and white photographic portrait, dressed in his Confederate naval uniform and set against a studio interior.

Visual Elements & Composition

Mid grey dominates the frame, with charcoal shadows and lighter grey highlights carrying the tonal range from edge to edge. The composition is built around a rectangular photographic plate: a man in a dark suit sits in a carved wooden armchair, with a side table of dark bottles beside him and a diamond-patterned floor tile running beneath. Nothing is decorative for its own sake. Every element sits in the same restrained monochrome, so the eye settles on the figure and his posture.

Meaning & Symbolism

Maury was a pioneering oceanographer, cartographer and meteorologist, known as the Pathfinder of the Seas for charting ocean currents. He resigned from the U.S. Navy to join the Confederacy, where he contributed to naval strategy and coastal defence. The uniform and insignia mark his rank and allegiance, while the formal pose signals the authority and professionalism of a man whose work spanned both science and war. The portrait holds both halves of that record in one image, drawn from the 1860s, a period of national division.

Made For The Coffee Break

A portrait like this rewards a slow look, and a mug is the one piece of drinkware that gets exactly that. It is turned in the hand and studied over a morning cup, so the seated figure and the diamond tiles come into view one angle at a time. Give it to a history lover, a navy buff or someone who likes their gifts with a bit of backstory and a sharp edge.

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.