MUGSHOTS ON A MUG — FACES FROM THE POLICE ARCHIVE

A collection of arrested faces. A record of alleged crimes. And a little joke hidden in the English language.

This black ceramic mug features a series of historical police photographs showing men photographed for official identification.

Some appear in pairs: one portrait taken from the front, another from the side. Others look directly into the camera, wearing the hats, jackets, and work clothes of their time.

Above several portraits, handwritten police annotations record names and alleged offences.

Among the visible accusations are assault with intent to murder, resisting an officer, and disturbing the peace.

The men stare into the camera with expressions ranging from apprehension to apparent indifference. We see their faces, but know little about their lives beyond the information preserved in the photographs.

THE INVENTION OF THE MUGSHOT

During the late nineteenth century, police departments increasingly adopted photography as a tool for identifying suspects and maintaining criminal records.

The system of standardized frontal and profile portraits became particularly influential through the work of French criminologist Alphonse Bertillon.

By the early twentieth century, such images had become an important part of modern policing.

Today, they also preserve an extraordinary visual record of everyday faces, clothing, and social history.

A police photograph, however, records an encounter with the criminal justice system. It does not necessarily establish guilt.

WHY MUGSHOTS ON A MUG?

In English, mug means both a drinking vessel and, informally, a person's face.

A mugshot is a photograph of someone's face, particularly one taken by the police.

That makes a collection of historical mugshots on an actual mug a rather appropriate combination.

THE DESIGN

This glossy black ceramic mug features a sequence of monochrome police portraits arranged around its surface.

The original photographic details and handwritten annotations are retained, preserving the archival character of the images.

Available in two sizes: 11 oz and 15 oz.

READING FRAMES — EVERYDAY ARCHIVES

Reading Frames is an independent visual-history project and YouTube channel exploring archival photography and the stories behind historical images.

Our Everyday Archives collection brings remarkable images into contemporary objects, creating unexpected encounters with the past.

Reading Frames — History, Reframed.