Cool Mug Gift Ideas: Mug 'Ems

A new and original idea in homemade gift giving is a set of books in the Mug 'Ems series They introduce single serving recipes that can be prepared and baked right in the mug! Simply fill a small plastic bag with the dry ingredients, place the bag inside the mug and decorate. The recipient adds the additional ingredients and bakes the recipe right in the mug! Each recipe includes gift tags that can be personalized and attached, creating a simple and clever gift that everyone will love. Recipes included in Mug 'Ems, Sweet Things are Fudge Brownie, Peanut Butter Cheesecake, Chocolate Chip Blondie, Applesauce Cake and many more.

A Question About What a Mug is Worth.

Someone asked the question on Yahoo Answers, How do you find out what a mug is worth? This mug is green and marked in the bottom with a letter H in a circle and has the number 497.

My Answer;

One way to estimate the value of collectible mugs is to look on eBay and other on-line sites where collectibles are sold. There are many different types of mugs and you have not given enough information.

Another way to access value of a collectible mug is to look the mug up in books devoted to giving values to mugs and other collectibles.

See the book "ABC Plates & Mugs Identification and Value Guide: Identification and Value Guide (Hardcover)"

The markings that you describe tell the batch number when the mug was made. But other important factors are the style, manufacture, material that it is made of (i.e. glass, china, plastic, etc.), time period that it was made, etc.

Your mug might be an Anchor Hawking mug which is collectible. But without knowing more about it that is just a guess.

The main thing to consider with all collectibles is condition. If your mug is one of the sought after brands, and it is in good condition, no chips, cracks, missing paint or other damage it may have some value to collectors.

Heat Sensitive Transforming Mugs Video

Check out these cool heat sensitive transforming mugs.

How to Make Mugs

I mostly concern myself with buying and collecting mugs, but I am always looking for information about ways to make mugs too. It occured to me that other collectors may also want to know about making mugs.

One website that gives some good information about making mugs is Clayart. Check out this link to the forms section and scroll down to the mugs section.

Sexy Mugs

I could not resits posting this funny mug picture.

Anchor Hocking Glassware

Vintage Anchor Hocking Fire King Mugs

As a mug collector I am always coming across Anchor Hocking pieces. I see many vintage mugs on eBay (like the ones above) and other auction sites. So I thought I would do a post on Anchor Hocking. They are a glass manufacturer that has been around for over 125 years. According to a post that I read on eBay, the company is the second-biggest glassware supplier in all of North America. They sell their wares to consumers via traditional retail channels, businesses and they work with restaurants and hotels also.

According to the Anchor Hocking Glass Museum Website;

Anchor Hocking first came into existence when Isaac J. Collins and six friends raised $8,000 to buy the Lancaster Carbon Company, Lancaster, Ohio, when it went into receivership in 1905. The company's facility was known as the Black Cat from all the carbon dust. Mr. Collins, a native of Salisbury, Maryland, had been working in the decorating department of the Ohio Flint Glass Company when this opportunity arose. Unfortunately the $8,000 that was raised was not sufficient to purchase and operate the new company, so Mr. Collins enlisted the help of Mr. E. B. Good. With a check for $17,000 provided by Mr. Good, one building, two day-tanks, and 50 employees, Mr. Collins was able to begin Hocking Glass Company operations at the Hocking Glass Company.

The company, named for the Hocking River near which the plant was located, made and sold approximately $20,000 worth of glassware in the first year. Production was expanded with the purchase of another day-tank. This project was funded by selling $5,000 in stock to Thomas Fulton, who was to become the Secretary-Treasurer.

Now they are subsidiary of a larger hospitality firm, called Global Home Products. Based out of Lancaster, OH. On the company's website (see the link below), you can order glassware, dinnerware, containers, and other items for your home.

Official Anchorhocking Website

Anchor Hocking Glass Museum Website