Moomin by Arabia Moomin True to its origins Mug 0.3 l black, white

At a glance

• 0.3 l capacity
• Vitreous porcelain
• Dishwasher-safe, oven-safe, microwave-safe, and freezer-safe
• Black and white design with subtle color accents
• Motif featuring the Moomin family and the lighthouse keeper
• Based on Tove Jansson’s novels "Moominpappa at Sea" and "Moominvalley in November"
• Expressive, atmospheric illustrations by Tove Jansson
• Classic Arabia shape based on Kaj Franck’s Teema
• Part of the True to its Origins collection
• Made in Thailand

Product details

• Brand: Moomin by Arabia
• Collection: True to its Origins
• Motif: Moomin family and lighthouse keeper
• Material: Vitreous porcelain
• Capacity: 0.3 l
• Height: 8.1 cm
• Width: 11 cm
• Diameter: 8.3 cm
• Weight: 250 g
• Care: Dishwasher-safe
• Microwave: Safe
• Oven: Safe
• Freezer: Safe
• Illustration basis: Tove Jansson
• Shape: Based on Kaj Franck’s Teema
• Basis for the illustrations: "Moominpappa at Sea" (1965) and "Moominvalley in November" (1970)
• Country of origin: Thailand
• EAN: 6411801003864

True to its Origins – back to Tove Jansson’s Moomin world

The True to its Origins mug is one of the slightly different Moomin mugs from Arabia. It does not focus on a single character. Instead, it is about the special atmosphere of Tove Jansson’s later stories.

The illustrations are based on the novels "Moominpappa at Sea" from 1965 and "Moominvalley in November" from 1970. Both stories are among the later Moomin works and differ significantly in mood from the early, often very playful adventures.

Black, white, and a whole lot of atmosphere

The design thrives on the black and white drawings. Tove Jansson was able to create an astonishing amount of atmosphere with just a few lines – and this is showcased particularly beautifully on this tableware.

On this mug, the Moomin family meets a lighthouse keeper. The scene appears calm, somewhat mysterious, and at the same time very personal. Subtle yellow, orange, and light blue accents provide small splashes of color in an otherwise restrained design.

It is precisely this reduction that makes the mug interesting to me. It does not look like a colorful children's product, but like an independent piece of Scandinavian design.

A mug for Moomin fans and design lovers

The True to its Origins collection was deliberately designed to be combined with other Moomin tableware. Black and white go with practically every other color – regardless of whether they are the classic green, blue, pink, or yellow Moomin mugs.

With 0.3 liters, the mug also has the tried-and-tested size for coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or other favorite drinks.

The classic Arabia shape

The shape is based on Kaj Franck’s timeless Teema series. Its clear, functional design provides a calm frame for Tove Jansson’s detailed drawings.

The interplay of shape and illustration is, for me, one of the great strengths of Moomin by Arabia: The mug works as a utility item just as well as it does as a small piece of Scandinavian design history.

Vitreous porcelain – made for everyday life

The mug is made of vitreous porcelain and is designed for daily use. It is dishwasher-safe and suitable for use in the microwave, oven, and freezer.

Therefore, it does not need to stay in the cupboard. Especially with such a restrained design, it is perfectly suited as a daily coffee or tea mug.

My assessment

For me, True to its Origins is one of the most interesting Moomin series for adults. It is less playful than many of the colorful character motifs and shows very beautifully how much depth is hidden in Tove Jansson’s drawings.

I particularly like the black and white design. It makes the mug exceptionally timeless and ensures that it fits easily into a modern table setting, even outside of a classic Moomin collection.

Those who like Moomin not only because of the famous characters, but also appreciate Tove Jansson’s drawings and her special way of conveying moods, will receive a truly beautiful piece from the True to its Origins series with this mug.