The Unemployed Philosophers Guild Drag Story Hour Ceramic Mug Appraisal

The Unemployed Philosophers Guild Drag Story Hour Ceramic Mug

This item is a contemporary ceramic mug produced by 'The Unemployed Philosophers Guild,' a Brooklyn-based company known for intellectual and satirical novelty gifts. This specific piece is a commemorative item titled 'Drag Story Hour,' bearing a copyright date of 2024. The mug is constructed from standard white ceramic with a clear glaze finish. The bottom of the mug (the underside) features comprehensive black printed markings including the brand logo featuring a silhouette of a philosopher holding a skull, the company name, website address, and location. It prominently displays the item title 'DRAG STORY HOUR' and the manufacturing origin 'MADE IN CHINA' with the production number '#4826'. Functional instructions are included, stating 'MICROWAVE AND DISHWASHER SAFE' at the top arch and a humorous brand-specific instruction 'FOR BEST RESULTS, USE OTHER SIDE' at the bottom. The condition appears to be excellent or 'new old stock' (NOS), showing a clean, unblemished white underside with no visible crazing, chips, or tea/coffee staining. The circular foot rim is unglazed, which is typical for modern ceramic manufacturing to prevent the item from sticking to the kiln shelf during firing. The typography is clean and modern, indicating a high-quality contemporary screen-printing or heat-transfer process for the labeling.