A swirling and curling pattern of vines spring forth from this mug. The leaves are vaguely reminiscent of ivy as if this mug were a scholarly brick wall slowly being covered by the ivy it supports. I can't say there are many ivy-covered brick walls or ivy-covered anything here in the southwest, that definitely the east coast. It's interesting the symbol ivy has come to occupy in society; That iconic trefoil leaf is the most respected and revered vine, standing for knowledge in the ivy league and eternality in Celtic symbolism. There's also point ivy, which is not a true ivy, belonging to the genus Toxicodendron. True ivies are the genus Hedera and are noted for the ability to climb up to 90 feet. As a child, I was much more acquainted with poison ivy than its the scholarly namesake, and the sake of any who wishes to avoid that awful itching, please remember, "Leafs three; let it be." 

This mug comes from California Pantry which appears to be a now-defunct company that once produced ceramic sets, manufactured, of course, in China.