Coffee tastes better from a mug that's seen a few decades. Science, probably.
There's something about drinking your morning coffee from a mug with a past. Vintage mugs are one of the easiest, most affordable and most joyful things to collect. They're useful every day, they fit on any shelf, and there's a design out there for every interest, from sailboats to songbirds. Here's a guide to the styles you'll come across most and what makes each one special.
Speckled Stoneware Mugs (1970s and 80s)
If you grew up in the 70s or 80s, you probably remember these: chunky, cozy mugs in an oatmeal-colored glaze dotted with little brown iron speckles, usually with a brown rim and a printed or hand-painted design. Many were made in Japan for the American gift market by importers such as Otagiri, and they came in endless themes: nautical scenes, birds, mushrooms, owls, florals and wildlife. The speckles come from bits of iron in the clay or glaze that bloom during firing, giving each mug a warm, earthy look. Many are unmarked today because they were originally sold with paper labels that washed off long ago.
Pedestal and Irish Coffee Mugs
Tall, footed mugs with a flared rim became hugely popular in the 1970s and 80s, inspired by the glass Irish coffee cup. Made in porcelain or stoneware, they often feature birds, flowers or holiday scenes, sometimes with a colored foot that fades up into a white body. Their elegant shape makes them perfect for cocoa, lattes and whipped-cream drinks, and they look lovely lined up on an open shelf.
Studio Pottery Mugs
Handmade mugs thrown on a potter's wheel are a whole world of their own. Look for a signature, stamp or initials on the base, and for the small irregularities that show the maker's hand: throwing rings, glaze drips and pulled handles. Signed pieces from known potteries, such as the Owens family potteries of North Carolina, have their own devoted collectors. Even unsigned studio mugs are prized for their one-of-a-kind character.
How to Check Condition
- Run a finger around the rim. Small chips and "flea bites" are easiest to feel before you see them.
- Look inside. Coffee and tea stains can often be cleaned, but deep crazing (fine cracks in the glaze) inside a mug can hold stains.
- Check the handle joins. Hairline cracks where the handle meets the body are the most common hidden flaw.
- Look at the design. Printed decals and hand-painted designs can fade with years of dishwasher use.
Caring for Vintage Mugs
Hand washing is kindest to vintage mugs, especially ones with decals, painted designs or gold trim. Skip the microwave for any mug with metallic trim. For stubborn coffee stains, a paste of baking soda and water works wonders without harming the glaze.
Shop Our Vintage Mugs
Each of these is a one-of-a-kind find, here until it's gone: