Moomin Mug Mania

The exhibition examines the secret behind the mugs’ popularity — how they relate to today’s lifestyles and everyday life, and what makes certain mugs especially coveted and valuable among collectors.

For many, Moomin mugs have become emblematic of Finnish identity. They are also linked to personal life stories, carrying meanings, memories, and nostalgia. The mugs also symbolize the Moomin way of life – a humane worldview of tolerance, warmth, and joy – with which people wish to identify. Collecting Moomin mugs carries a sense of community: they are gathered, discussed, and displayed for others to admire.

Tove Jansson (1914–2001) designed the first Moomin mugs and, together with her brother Lars Jansson, founded Moomin Characters Oy Ltd in the 1950s to manage the copyright of the Moomins. The modern Moomin mugs were introduced in the 1990s, produced by Arabia using Kaj Franck’s classic Teema series design.