Rare 1994 Starbucks Minneapolis St Paul "Spoonbridge and Cherry" City Mug
Rare 1994 Starbucks Minneapolis St Paul "Spoonbridge and Cherry" City Mug
SOLD $1,900.00 Sold: May 14, 2025 on eBayOriginal Listing Description
A "Grail" item for Starbucks collectors. Rare 1994 Starbucks Minneapolis St Paul "Spoonbridge and Cherry" City Mug Collector Series. The back story: Minneapolis, 1985. Artist Claes Oldenburg and his wife, Coosje van Bruggen begin to build a giant spoon and cherry which becomes the centerpiece of the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, the largest urban sculpture park in the world. Oldenburg was known for making oversized versions of everyday objects. The spoon was Oldenburg's idea, who had a habit of doodling spoons; the cherry was van Bruggen's idea, seeking to liven up the garden. The Spoonbridge and Cherry soon became a landmark in Minneapolis. When Starbucks created its City Mug Collector Series in 1994, they chose the sculpture as the image for their Minneapolis mug. The mug was on sale for four days before a copyright claim required Starbucks to remove all the mugs from sale and destroy them. Starbucks had neglected to get the artist's permission to use the image. It is believed that fewer than 30 were ever sold. Our mug was purchased during a business trip to MSP that week, then brought back to Chicago and promptly put with others in a china cabinet - it has never been used. Only years later were we to learn about how rare our happenstance purchase had been. (Condition: Pre-Owned)
Note: This item has been sold and is no longer available. This page serves as a historical price reference for Starbucks collectors and appraisers.
Original Listing Description
A "Grail" item for Starbucks collectors. Rare 1994 Starbucks Minneapolis St Paul "Spoonbridge and Cherry" City Mug Collector Series. The back story: Minneapolis, 1985. Artist Claes Oldenburg and his wife, Coosje van Bruggen begin to build a giant spoon and cherry which becomes the centerpiece of the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, the largest urban sculpture park in the world. Oldenburg was known for making oversized versions of everyday objects. The spoon was Oldenburg's idea, who had a habit of doodling spoons; the cherry was van Bruggen's idea, seeking to liven up the garden. The Spoonbridge and Cherry soon became a landmark in Minneapolis. When Starbucks created its City Mug Collector Series in 1994, they chose the sculpture as the image for their Minneapolis mug. The mug was on sale for four days before a copyright claim required Starbucks to remove all the mugs from sale and destroy them. Starbucks had neglected to get the artist's permission to use the image. It is believed that fewer than 30 were ever sold. Our mug was purchased during a business trip to MSP that week, then brought back to Chicago and promptly put with others in a china cabinet - it has never been used. Only years later were we to learn about how rare our happenstance purchase had been. (Condition: Pre-Owned)
Note: This item has been sold and is no longer available. This page serves as a historical price reference for Starbucks collectors and appraisers.