This mug features a tribute to the traditional tattoo and scarification patterns found among the Yoruba of present-day Nigeria and the Fang of Central Africa (Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, and Cameroon). These body markings served as visual languages—systems of identity, status, protection, and belonging passed down through generations.
Among the Yoruba, facial marks known as ila were often applied in early childhood. Their patterns indicated a person’s family lineage, ethnic subgroup, and sometimes spiritual roles. These marks also carried aesthetic and social value, often regarded as signs of beauty and honor.
In Fang culture, tattoo-like scarification patterns were more than decorative. They held spiritual significance, believed to offer protection and serve as rites of passage. The motifs frequently echoed cosmological symbols and clan structures, crafted with careful symmetry and repetition.
This mug preserves these visual traditions, drawing from documented patterns and translating them into a daily object that encourages reflection on the layered histories behind African body art.
• Ceramic
• 11 oz mug dimensions: 3.8″ (9.6 cm) in height, 3.2″ (8.2 cm) in diameter
• 15 oz mug dimensions: 4.7″ (11.9 cm) in height, 3.3″ (8.5 cm) in diameter
• 20 oz mug dimensions: 4.3″ (10.9 cm) in height, 3.7″ (9.3 cm) in diameter
• Lead and BPA-free material
• Dishwasher and microwave safe
• Blank product sourced from China
This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it takes us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions!
This mug features a tribute to the traditional tattoo and scarification patterns found among the Yoruba of present-day Nigeria and the Fang of Central Africa (Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, and Cameroon). These body markings served as visual languages—systems of identity, status, protection, and belonging passed down through generations.
Among the Yoruba, facial marks known as ila were often applied in early childhood. Their patterns indicated a person’s family lineage, ethnic subgroup, and sometimes spiritual roles. These marks also carried aesthetic and social value, often regarded as signs of beauty and honor.
In Fang culture, tattoo-like scarification patterns were more than decorative. They held spiritual significance, believed to offer protection and serve as rites of passage. The motifs frequently echoed cosmological symbols and clan structures, crafted with careful symmetry and repetition.
This mug preserves these visual traditions, drawing from documented patterns and translating them into a daily object that encourages reflection on the layered histories behind African body art.
• Ceramic
• 11 oz mug dimensions: 3.8″ (9.6 cm) in height, 3.2″ (8.2 cm) in diameter
• 15 oz mug dimensions: 4.7″ (11.9 cm) in height, 3.3″ (8.5 cm) in diameter
• 20 oz mug dimensions: 4.3″ (10.9 cm) in height, 3.7″ (9.3 cm) in diameter
• Lead and BPA-free material
• Dishwasher and microwave safe
• Blank product sourced from China
This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it takes us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions!
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