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Unidentified Soldier In Union Uniform And Hardee Hat With Rifle In Front Of Painted Backdrop Showing Military Camp (U.S. Civil War) Black Coffee Mug

Unidentified Soldier In Union Uniform And Hardee Hat With Rifle In Front Of Painted Backdrop Showing Military Camp (U.S. Civil War) Black Coffee Mug

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Regular price $17.99 USD
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Unidentified Soldier In Union Uniform And Hardee Hat With Rifle In Front Of Painted Backdrop Showing Military Camp (U.S. Civil War) Black Coffee Mug

This studio portrait from the American Civil War, made between 1861 and 1865, shows a Union soldier standing with his rifle in front of a painted military camp.

Visual Elements & Composition

The soldier stands upright at the centre of the scene, his rifle held vertically beside him and his wide-brimmed Hardee hat shading his face. Behind him, a painted backdrop of tents, soldiers and trees fills the frame, its soft brushwork receding into the distance. The palette is warm and muted, built from gold, dark brown, pale grey and charcoal with a sepia cast over everything, as if the picture has aged in a drawer. The portrait sits within a gilt octagonal frame, and the whole composition is formal and still.

Meaning & Symbolism

Soldiers of the period sat for portraits like this to send home to their families before or during their service. The rifle marks the sitter as a combatant, while the painted camp places him within the wider war and signals his commitment to the Union cause beyond the studio walls. The Hardee hat, named after General William J. Hardee, was a hallmark of Union infantry identity. The sitter remains anonymous, which makes the image one of thousands of personal histories caught by the new art of photography, and a rare primary source for the uniforms, equipment and studio practices of the 1860s.

Turning the Story in Your Hand

A mug is turned in the hand, so the scene travels with every turn. The soldier comes round to face you, then the painted camp slides into view and the story continues. The octagonal frame gives the portrait the feel of a keepsake, and a keepsake suits a cup that gets held every morning. It is a serious, quiet image for an object that is usually anything but.

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.