GE mug

This GE mug, with a green rather than customary blue logo, was probably used to promote the company's "greener" corporate image. The elegant and timeless GE logo stands out among the many soulless and generic logos that are used today.

Thanks Nancy.

Astrology mug

A mug straight out of the 1970's- you could start every morning as if it were the 'dawning of Age of Aquarius' with coffee served in this cool astrology themed mug.

4-H mug

A cup of coffee with milk and a dash of luck. In honor of St Patrick's Day comes a mug for the 4-H organization featuring their classic 4 leaf  clover logo design. You can almost smell the fresh cut hay and county fair livestock stalls.

Looking for more coffee related posts? Check out the new Popular Coffee News blog!

Marshall Fields mug

"Chicago, Chicago, that toddling town..." This mug comes from Chicago's legendary Marshall Fields Department store (now a Macy's).  Perhaps once sold as a souvenir, it features the M.F. logo below a skyline of the Windy City which wraps around the mug.

ChemTreat Inc mug

Cup of ChemTreat anyone? Not a bad looking mug, but definitely not the most appealing thing to read as you're taking that first sip of coffee in the morning. Guessing from the water drop art that their chemicals have something to do with water purification.

Wang mug

Perhaps the victim of too many computer geek jokes, Wang Computer went bust in the 90's. This promo mug featuring generic artwork and a reference to the 80's movie Back to the Future is a momento of technology's past.

Hawaii mug 2

A trip back to the South Pacific with this Hawaii mug that features some nice brush work on the front. As souvenir mugs go this one is top shelf.  A personalized brushscript note saying "Aloha Mom. Pearl" is on the back. What are the odds of Pearl's last name being Harbor?

Massachusetts mug

It may be the Bay State, but the stylized musket and hat are iconic reminders of the States first tourists- who probably preferred a morning cuppa tea to start their day. 

Miss National Pre-Teen Pageant mug

The artwork on this commemorative pageant mug from 1990 looks more like it came out of a 1970's clip art catalog- which really isn't too surprising.  Stars, bunting, a cheerleader, and an outlined U.S. all help to remind us whose pageant it is!

Bowling mug

Function follows form in this striking (sorry couldn't resist) hand-painted bowling themed coffee mug. The 3 dimensional bowling ball and pin make a lousy handle, but sure are a clever touch. 

Honeybee's Pancake House mug

Here's a nice looking mug from a joint called Honeybee's Pancake House that features a bee that not only runs, but also has arms and hands- I guess the better to hold up those batter encrusted wings.

New post next Sunday

American Filtrona mug

This mug for AFC (a manufacturer of "filter and bonded fibre") seems to have been given out to thank faithful employees for sticking around for 5 years." Thanks, here's a mug. Now back to work."

New post on Sunday

Welcome to the Weekly Mug Shot

In the spirit of such great sites as Skull-A- Day, Painting -A- Day , and Soviet Poster -A- Day comes a slightly less ambitious entry. A site of weekly coffee mug posts- that's right coffee mugs! As Frank might sing, "Man, I've got a whole gang of coffee mugs...", and where better to put some of them than the digital display shelf known as the internet? 

The mugs range from the imprinted kind that companies hand out to promote their wares (my favorites), to colorful State souvenir mugs, to some quirky novelty ones. After serving time in a kitchen cabinet, or as a desktop pencil holder, these ceramic cups share a common fate- they inevitably end up on a flea market bargain table or stacked on thrift store shelves, both places where I've found many of mine.

The first 'mug shot' will go up on Monday.