Tonight's special: one cup of night sky, spoon included.

Look into the cup drawn on this stars mug and you find a swirl of stars where the drink should be, with a spoon standing in it. It is a small daydream for stargazers and for anyone who lingers over something hot at the end of the day.

Inside the drawing: a cup, a saucer and a pour of stars

A rounded cup with its handle on the right stands on a saucer, both drawn in thin black outlines. The top of the cup is filled in solid dark, and a white spiral turns through it among small white dots, like a tiny galaxy poured out for one.

A spoon stands in the cup and leans up to the right, its long handle ending in an oval bowl at the top. To the upper left, thin lines of steam curl upward, and a few small four-point sparkles sit beside them.

The name is lettered under the saucer in thin, widely spaced serif capitals: "Stirring Stardust." The art uses no color at all: it is black on white, and the dark surface of the drawn drink is its only filled-in area. Everything else is left as line.

Everyday ceramic, easy to live with

• Glossy ceramic with a vivid print
• Built sturdy: this is a daily cup, not one for the display shelf
• The drawing sits on the side that faces you when the handle is on your left
• Cold tea can go back in the microwave; the mug is safe there
• It is dishwasher safe as well

Who it's for

Stargazers, backyard astronomers, daydreamers and tea or coffee people with a soft spot for line art. Picture it on a windowsill near a telescope, on a nightstand beside a stack of library books or next to the sugar bowl. As a present it fits a birthday, a new apartment, a science teacher at the end of term or the person who always knows when the next eclipse is due.

Quick answers

Would it suit someone who is serious about astronomy?

Yes, as a light touch. The starry swirl nods at the night sky, and the drawing stays simple enough to sit on a desk at work or beside a logbook at home.

Is it a good mug for an evening drink?

It is. Stars and steam suit the hour when the kettle goes on after dinner, and chamomile, cocoa or decaf all belong in it.

Is it a gift for a teenager or for an adult?

Either. The drawing is gentle and needs no explaining, so it works for a teenager with a first telescope as well as a grandparent who likes a quiet pot of tea.

Where does it fit besides the kitchen?

On a desk next to a star atlas, in a dorm room or on the table at an astronomy club night. A drawing this small and plain is at home in any of them.

Shipping and returns

Free US shipping. US delivery usually 5–12 business days. Easy 30-day returns.

Size guide