Moomin mug capacity and other useful mug facts
Moomin mugs are becoming increasingly popular year after year. They are used, collected and are constantly being bought in greater numbers, even outside Finland – according to Mukify’s statistics, particularly in the other Nordic countries. We have compiled answers to questions that are on the minds of thousands of Moomin fans, collectors and retailers.
What is the capacity of a Moomin mug?
The capacity of the traditional Teema-style Moomin mug by Arabia is 2.6 dl, which was once rounded up to the nearest whole decilitre, i.e. 3 decilitres. The actual capacity of the mug may vary by a few centilitres from 2.6 decilitres, as the manufacturer allows for slight variations in the weight of the mugs. The weight of the mug directly affects the thickness of its walls and, consequently, its capacity.
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Moomin mugs have also been produced in a smaller 2 dl size as children’s mugs and as part of children’s tableware sets. The first 2 dl Moomin mug in its current design was released as part of the Moomin children’s tableware set in 1990.
In 2021, Arabia released the first larger 4 dl Moomin mugs in the Teema style, featuring illustrations based on themes familiar from the 1990s. In future, these larger Moomin mugs will be released annually, at least as part of the ABC special collection launched in autumn 2022.
Dimensions of Moomin mugs (width x length x height) and weights
3 dl Moomin mug: 11 cm x 8.3 cm x 8.1 cm / 254 g
4 dl Moomin mug: 12 cm x 9.4 cm x 8.9 cm / 335 g
2 dl Moomin mug (1990s): 9 cm x 7 cm x 7 cm / 190 g
2 dl Moomin mug (1950s): 9 cm x 7.5 cm x 7 cm / 175 g
Selling Moomin mugs
Selling Moomin mugs may seem like an easy and straightforward task. Before you start selling and choose a suitable sales channel, it is worth considering at least the following:
How much time and effort are you prepared to put into selling your mugs?
If you want to get the best possible price for your mugs, each one will need to be photographed and sold individually, and often posted to different buyers. People are happy to sell a collection of just a few mugs this way, but when it comes to large collections, the effort, time and patience required can be more than many people are willing to put in.
For a large and valuable collection, a sensible option may also be to put the purchase services of different companies out to tender. Companies are able to purchase even large collections reliably, quickly and securely.
Are you willing to ship the mugs, or do you definitely want the buyer to collect them?
Collection can be a good option if you live in a larger town or city. In that case, you’re likely to find a buyer within picking-up distance.
As a general rule, however, it is worth offering shipping as an option, as it makes it possible to find a suitable buyer practically anywhere, including outside Finland.
Where should you sell Moomin mugs?
The best places for selling on your own, which requires active advertising, are currently Facebook sales groups, Moomin mug flea markets, Tori.fi and Huuto.net. In Sweden, mug sales are particularly successful on the Tradera online auction site.
If you want to sell your mug quickly and avoid additional questions and doubts from potential buyers, you should include at least the following in your sales listing:
- Product name
- Good product photos that clearly show the condition of the item (please also photograph any faults or defects)
- Description of the product, particularly if its condition requires it
- Product price
- Delivery and payment methods
Tip: It’s a good idea to include a date label in your product photos, showing the date of the listing, the product’s location and the seller’s name.
When trading between private individuals, we strongly recommend face-to-face transactions if you are unable to verify the other party’s reliability, for example through user reviews.
Among businesses, the best deals are usually offered by operators specialising in the buying and selling of Moomin mugs, such as Finmug, although practically all second-hand dealers buy Moomin mugs due to their established demand.
Rarity and value of Moomin mugs
How many different Moomin mugs are there?
There are currently already over 190 different Teema-shaped Moomin mugs made by Arabia when both 3 dl and 4 dl mugs are included. In addition, there is a rarer version of the Tove’s Jubilee mug with glasses printed inside the mug, as well as an unofficial version of the Dive summer seasonal mug featuring a seashell pattern.
However, the number of Moomin mugs is updated several times a year as new mugs are released, so you can always check the most up-to-date number on Mukify’s Moomin mug list.
What is the rarest and most expensive Moomin mug?
Of the mugs that have actually been produced, the rarest is the Fazer Moomin mug, of which only 400 numbered copies were made in 2004. Because of its rarity, the Fazer mug now costs more than €10,000.
The world’s most expensive Moomin mug became the Dive with Seashells mug sold at a Swedish Tradera auction in November 2021, where the price rose to almost €24,000, or SEK 236,478.
How much do Moomin mugs sell for?
The prices of Moomin mugs generally vary depending on availability and condition. In addition to Fazer and Moomintroll Daydreaming mugs, the value of mugs made in the 1990s has increased sharply in recent years. See also the current TOP30 list of the most valuable Moomin mugs.
Why are Moomin mugs so popular?
The popularity of Moomin mugs is largely based on the fact that they have been easy to find and that their colourful, beautiful illustrations bring joy to their users. In recent years, the collecting hobby and the increase in mug values have also made the mugs popular as investment items.
The biggest single Moomin mug phenomenon of recent years is probably Moomin’s Day, which especially in 2018 made people more than a little excited. Moomin’s Day is now celebrated every year on August 9, the birthday of Tove Jansson, the creator of the Moomins.
When did the production of Moomin mugs end in Finland?
The last Moomin mug made in Finland at the Arabia factory is the 2016 summer seasonal mug Midsummer. All mugs produced after that have had their illustrations designed in Finland, but they have been manufactured in Thailand.
Arabia is believed to have started moving mug production to Thailand already after the mid-2000s, but no official information is available on this.
How can you identify a Moomin mug made in Finland?
A mug made in Finland can be identified with certainty by a sticker on the mug that says Made in Finland. All mugs made before the 2000s are believed to have been produced in Finland.
The most common misconception is that the crown stamp guarantees that a mug was made in Finland. This is not the case, as Arabia also used the iconic crown stamp on mugs made in Thailand before discontinuing the crown stamp in the early 2010s.
Other interesting facts
Who designs the Moomin mugs?
The most important name behind Moomin mug illustrations is the Finnish graphic designer and artist Tove Slotte, born in 1957. Slotte designed illustrations for Arabia’s Moomin products for more than 30 years. Her work was based on the original illustrations by Tove and Lars Jansson, which she adapted into compositions suitable for mugs and other tableware.
Slotte retired at the end of 2022, after which Moomin Arabia’s own design team has continued the illustration work. However, mugs designed by Slotte have still been released after her retirement, as the design process for Moomin mugs often takes several years.
Slotte’s final Moomin mug design for Moomin Arabia will be the Moomin’s Day 2026 special mug, which completes the series of Moomin’s Day mugs depicting the four seasons of Moominvalley. In total, Slotte designed 113 Moomin mug illustrations for Arabia.
In the early 1990s, when Tove Slotte went on maternity leave, the illustrations for Moomin mugs were designed by Camilla Moberg, who created the illustrations for a total of six mugs.
