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Unidentified Soldier In Confederate Uniform With Musket, Knife, And Sign Reading Victory Or Death! Atop Two Books (U.S. Civil War) Black Coffee Mug

Unidentified Soldier In Confederate Uniform With Musket, Knife, And Sign Reading Victory Or Death! Atop Two Books (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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Unidentified Soldier In Confederate Uniform With Musket, Knife, And Sign Reading Victory Or Death! Atop Two Books (U.S. Civil War) Black Coffee Mug

This is a historical portrait of an unidentified soldier in Confederate uniform, styled after an 1860s ambrotype or tintype and set in a warm, aged palette.

Visual Elements & Composition

Sepia dominates, covering about a third of the surface, with gold and dark grey filling most of the rest. Pale grey lifts the highlights, and a touch of dark red sits at the edges. The soldier is seated in a slouch hat and grey jacket, a long rifle held across his body and a leather sling over one shoulder. The scene sits inside an octagonal case with an oval portrait opening, so the figure reads as a cased photograph. Beside him, a placard reading VICTORY OR DEATH! rests on a stack of books.

Meaning & Symbolism

Victory or Death was one of the dramatic mottos of the mid-nineteenth-century South, and here it is stated plainly. Setting that blunt slogan on books pairs battle with scholarship, and that tension gives the piece its weight. The rifle and knife show the working equipment of an 1860s soldier, while the uniform and hat place him firmly in the Civil War era. Together they make a representative portrait of a period soldier.

On the Black Mug

A mug is held close and turned in the hand, so the image unfolds as the cup rotates: the soldier's face and hat first, then the rifle, then the placard and its books. Each turn brings a new part of the composition forward, which suits a scene built around one framed figure and a message set beside him. It makes a conversation piece for the desk or the breakfast table, and a warm gift for someone who reads history over a morning cup.

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.