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World Ocean Floor (1981) (Map) Black Coffee Mug

World Ocean Floor (1981) (Map) Black Coffee Mug

100 in stock

Regular price $17.99 USD
Regular price Sale price $17.99 USD
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World Ocean Floor (1981) - Black Mug Design

This map strips the water away and shows the seabed as a landscape you could, in principle, walk across.

Visual Elements & Composition

The ocean floor is rendered in shaded relief, with depth carried by a run of blues, indigo and violet that darken into the abyssal basins and lighten toward the continental margins. The composition is dominated by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a long, raised spine running the length of the ocean, with its central rift valley cut along the crest like a seam. Continental shelves fade out at the edges in softer tints. The map carries no decorative border or extra text beyond its title, so the terrain does all the talking.

Meaning & Symbolism

Marie Tharp and Bruce Heezen built this picture from thousands of sonar soundings taken by research ships. Tharp's careful analysis of those profiles revealed the rift valley in the 1950s, at a time when many scientists doubted that the seafloor could be moving at all. Her discovery supplied crucial evidence for seafloor spreading and, with it, the theory of plate tectonics. The painterly shading reflects the cartographic work of Heinrich Berann, who turned raw survey data into an image a non-specialist could read at a glance. The 1981 edition belongs to that same effort to make the hidden half of the planet visible.

Turning the Ocean in Your Hands

A mug is a surface you turn rather than look at head-on, and this map is built for that movement. As the cup rotates, the Mid-Atlantic Ridge slides across the front and the abyssal blues sweep around the curve, so each sip sends the seafloor past your eye in a new arrangement. It suits the hands-around-a-warm-cup habit of morning reading, when the ocean's dark ridges are a quiet thing to study over coffee.

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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.