The soldiers name and rank were written on the regimental steins, making it easy to determine their precise date. That way, you can spot them at a glance, even without the logo label. It has a hand-carved lid, a thumb lift in the form of a bird, and its hand-painted. The majority of the costly metallic cover is from a single metal. A Pewter lid and fittings used to be all the rage during the 19th Century and were included to protect the German beer stein from damages. Although at the time European potters did not know how to produce porcelain, German potters produced a substitute for porcelain, called faience. Germany introduced fixed lids to keep flies off their beer and mitigate the spread of bubonic plague in the mid-1300s. Giving troops (or their families) beer stains was a sign of honor to recognize their bravery. Its all stoneware, with people figures around the sides & no painting applied. But its the carvings that are lyrical, with the brightly dressed male musician holding a long traditional horn. 2023 LoveToKnow Media. In all, you can consider meeting a professional to value your German beer stein. Although it develops some yellow with age, its an attractive mug. Finding the period when your stein was made is important because older pieces will typically be more valuable. Look for early beer steins dating from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s, before 1918, made in Germany. An important fixture of the adolescent play space, these metal toy, Vintage Japanese Music Box: History & Collecting Tips, If you catch yourself humming the soft tunes from your childhood music box, then you'll definitely want to add a vintage Japanese music box to your home collection. The steins sides have a yellow tint from aging, but it still has a lovely patina. Not even a museum would want it. It explains why steins remain valuable and highly sought after to date. It may be created from two words. picked up a stein in PA at an old barn sale for my Girlfriends mother, I picked it up for $25.00 on the bottom it has made in Germany stamped into the clay twice the #17 in black & something is written over it that I cant read. This element increases the beer mugs sentimental value. The steins had the soldiers name and rank, so you can instantly identify their exact date. Add to cart. The P marking on the outer bottom means this is piece is a prototype. However, most items with these markings are antique glass mugs. The German faience steins were: Many German beer stein makers continued making faience steins throughout the 18th century. The manufacture of these customized items is a trend that started in the 1850s. They have a lid and sometimes a thumb lift. On Etsy, a Rein Zinn World War I spiked helmet beer stein from the 1920s was priced at$330. Deutschland Adler Eagle .4L Made In Germany Beer Stein. Replica and aged beer steins are still manufactured today, so you need to understand the history of these vessels to learn German beer stein values. Like the previous beer mug, this one is musical. Discover how to identify these pairs of dog figurines and what they're worth. Their mugs have stood the test of time. Most of the steins made in Germany are fabricated using the following materials: earthenware, ceramics, silver, crystal, glass, porcelain, pewter, creamware, and wood. The pewter lid's hinge should be able to pivot and be in working condition. The mug features a deer or antelope, which makes sense because animal motifs were a popular choice. A stein mugs nation of origin mark indicates how old it is. Their monetary and sentimental value will depend on what year and what era theyre from. By disabling cookies, you decide to not allow cookies to be stored on your computer. The country-of-origin mark is essential, although older pieces may not have it. When it sells we send you shipping information. These dates make sense only when the other mug features are likewise consistent. However, the marks and designs on German beer steins frequently depicted biblical themes, animal-based parables, or German folk tales. From books to websites, you can find plenty of resources from experts and avid collectors to help you identify a piece or start your own collection. Discolorations resulting from neglect or being exposed to the elements, such as sun or water damage, additionally, evidence of repair work is negative. A distinctive characteristic of old steins is their imperfections. This is where to sell your beer steins!! Most of the time, ornate handcrafted beer steins are made of stoneware ceramics. Genuine German beer mugs are often expensive and bulky because they are made with costly materials such as silver, pewter, wood, glass, etc. But how do you know German beer steins value? Our team works hard to ensure your Oktoberfest Haus experience is wunderbar! You will see everything you need to know about a manufacturer and even the period by looking at the marks under the stein. They are another mark of age, as a new stein no longer uses pewter fittings. Older beer mugs, however, might not have such a marking. You might presume it has a built-in music box or jingle. Inlay lids:They are well recognized for having a pewter rim and flange around an ornamental stoneware, porcelain, glass, or wood figurine inlay in the center. These complement the stein and contribute to its uniqueness. Munich Oktoberfest beer steins are an annual collectible. While the mug itself could be metal, ivory, wood, or stone, the lid was often made of pewter. The Most Valuable Modern American/German Beer Stein Most recent auction price: $500 Manufacturer: Greg Hildebrandt Production location: Germany Manufacture period: 20th century Model/design: Greg Hildebrandt style Special feature (s): Hildebrandt-inspired Dracula figure The base is chipped and the lid is loose. These paintings appear hand-painted because of their sloppy coloring and intense relief. If your piece has many or all of these conditions, it will be more valuable. The color gives it a timber-like tone and its decorated with relief carvings of ladies dancing. Heidelberg Beer Stein Original King Stein Westerwald Pottery Unused Vintage Beer Stein wit Lid German Beer Stein Tankard Stoneware Pewter 5 out of 5 stars (267) $ 63.45. Although you may drink from them, their primary function was purely social and ornamental. Hand-carved designs indicate authenticity, and those with a German patriotic scheme can be more valuable. This mug dates back hundreds of years, and its precious. For example, they can have strange paint flecks or colors outside the lines. AGardenCottage. Soon after, rings enclosed by glass or ceramic lids developed from ornamental pewter fittings came. With newer pieces, it helps to have a certificate of authenticity, and this beer stein has one. These may include: Now that we have the basics down, lets look at the most valuable German beer stein markings. The term has come to be used to refer to any beer container or tankard that has a hinged lid and handle. The lid is another crucial component in determining the worth of the stein. Faience originated from German potters as a porcelain alternative, even though European potters at the time lacked the knowledge to make porcelain. When you first spot the title of this product, youll be forgiven for thinking this beer mug sings! They are made for the mantle as much as for your hand. Funnily enough, they can be made of ceramic, porcelain, glass, wood, and pewter lids. Old manufacturers began producing stoneware steins with pewter lids after the invention of stoneware. Identifying a valuable old German beer stein marking is a process. To determine whether your stein is a valuable antique or just a cool collectible, you need to look for clues about how old the stein is, where it was made, and how it was made. Antique Flatware Value (Identification & Price Guides), Antique School Desk Value (Identification & Price Guides), Vintage Hitchcock Chairs Value (Identification & Price Guides), Antique Milk Glass Basket Value (Identification & Price Guides), How To Sell Beanie Babies? A woman serving customers in a beer garden wears a pink dress on this mug. Siegburg, Cologne, Frechen, and Kreussen were the major centers for pottery production. Those who collect steins will be able to identify the ages of such steins by their features. You will thus want your rare stein to be relatively whole without too many nicks and bumps. Long after the threat of the black death dissipated, German steins continued to gain traction, becoming a major mass-produced European product in the 19th Century. Its one of the most sought-after brands, and you need to double-check that youre not handling a fake. Ergonomic bumps and ridges are a relatively recent innovation. The Timeless Appeal of Satsuma Vases: A Collector's Guide. German Beer Stein, circa mid-20th Century Brown ceramic beer stein features several pictorial and text cartouches. So its crucial to scrutinize the beer stein. There have been many well-made antique German beer steins over the years, but those made by Bohne & Sohne, Marzi & Remy and Villeroy & Boch are often thought to be among the most beautiful. Chip and crack resistant, the new non-porous material was a perfect choice for holding beer. Its preowned and thus may have some imperfections. A valuable German beer stein markings and other identifying characteristics are the primary means of identification. An example of this is a 17th Century produced German beer stain that belonged to a family and sold for 1,500 USD for a generation, versus a beer stein manufactured . All rights reserved. The bottom of the mug has multiple verification stamps including Villeroy & Bosch. The steins worth was reasonable despite its loose top and cracked base. The lid is the most effective way of identifying a steins age, price and quality. The following are some makers of German beer steins. Pewter and silver pieces are valued based on the amount of metal used alone, but they increase in price the older they are. Get one and enjoy the best Oktoberfest beer in one of these! The variety of stein-decorating designs showcased the creativity and mastery of the top artisans of the time was the best. MysteinCollection.com is the largest free online database of collectible and antique beer steins. There is usually a 4-digit mold number on the side or base of these beer mugs. 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