Tove Jansson’s illustrations and books about Moominvalley contain treasures – in the form of popular mugs, bowls and plates. Her stories about the inhabitants of the valley have brought color and motifs to Arabia’s ceramics and porcelain since the early 90s. With the help of illustrator Tove Slotte’s adaptations of Jansson’s cartoons, many homes now have real treasures to collect.
Every year, new variants of mugs with different motifs are released, but as some are only produced in a certain number or for a special occasion, they also become more sought after by collectors. But it’s not just mugs that are used, found or resold in the auctions here on Tradera. Little My bowls and Sniff plates are also popular, although they don’t come in the same price range as the most sought-after mugs. So which Arabia Moomin mugs are important to look out for? We list the top picks here!
10 sought-after mugs with Moominvalley motifs
1. Swimming jump with seashells
The prototype of the 2006 ‘Swim Jump’ is called the ‘Swim Jump with Seashell’ and was very close to going into production. So close, in fact, that around 300 copies had already been produced when the design was changed. Most were destroyed, but about ten were given as gifts to Arabia employees, making the mug probably the rarest of all Moomin mugs. Here on Tradera, “Swim jump with seashell” was sold for SEK 236,478 in October 2021.
2. the pheasant mosquito
This Christmas mug from 2004 has become one of the rarest treasures in the collection. It was produced in 400 pieces for the Fazer café in Helsinki and because the number is so limited, it is the mug that many collectors crave. Here on Tradera, it broke the record in its category in March 2022. Fazer Moomin mug 323/400 was then sold for 167 000 SEK. Before that, it has been sold for SEK 84,900 and SEK 70,000 respectively. Breathtaking sums that may make everyone take an extra look to see if it can be found in any hiding place.
3. Moomintroll is daydreaming
One of the limited edition treasures is the black and white Moomin Daydreaming mug, drawn from the book Dangerous Midsummer . The valuable mug was made for the Arabia Museum in 2005 and was also sold in 2005 and is now circulating among collectors. Here on Tradera, a copy of “Moomintroll Daydreams” was sold for SEK 31,500 in January 2022. Before that, it has been sold for SEK 20,950 on Tradera.
4. the Moomintroll
This rare Moomin mug is called Moomintroll and was manufactured by Arabia Finland in the late 1950s. A copy in good condition was sold on Tradera for SEK 21,500 in January 2021.
5. Moomin Millennium
A festive special mug where the Moomin family celebrates and toasts the new millennium. Although it is not as unusual as the aforementioned, this is a variant that many still value highly. An unused mug with the motif was sold here on Tradera in 2019 for SEK 14,500.
6. pink moomin mug
A real favorite is the motif where Moomintroll and Snorkmaiden are sitting on a bench with Lilly My in the background. Just like the green mug below, this is an early treasure with cartoon squares. It sold for SEK 13,000 in July 2019 on Tradera and is popular among collectors.
7. moomin mug green
A true 90’s classic that sometimes pops up on the second hand market is the green mug with Moominpappa in a hammock. It has two cartoon squares, which is unique to this green mug and the pink one above. It has been sold for 12 000 SEK on Tradera in June 2019.
8. Moomin mug Christmas greeting
One of Arabia’s seasonal releases is the Christmas mug, and the Christmas-themed ones made between 1997 and 2002 are great collectibles to look out for. In May, one such mug was sold on Tradera for SEK 7,345. Christmas mugs from 2004 and 2005 are also popular, but don’t fetch quite as high prices yet. These mugs were only sold in the year they were made and therefore have a relatively high collector’s value.
9. Moomin Fred
This sky blue mug was first produced in 1996 and has a high collector’s value even though it was in production until 2002. Tove Slotte was inspired by a postcard published in the 1980s. The mug was last auctioned on Tradera in September 2020 for SEK 6,000.
10. Moomin mug Office
This dark yellow mug with an eventful motif was produced by Arabia between 1996 and 2002. It is considered one of the most popular mugs of the 90s. The mug was sold on Tradera in August 2021 for SEK 5,100.
Amanda Blennborn, freelance journalist
