If you've been to Oktoberfest in Munich, you know it's not just about dressing up, drinking German beer and eating tasty Bavarian food. Venus is seen on her daybed in the stein, being fanned by her servant and surrounded by flying cherubs. But they can still be worth something, as this mug shows. The first porcelain beer mugs made in Europe were Meissen steins, produced in Germany. Their rise and decline can be traced to centuries of strife, innovations in production, and even war. They will tell you where and what year your stein was made. Finding the period when your stein was made is important because older pieces will typically be more valuable. One of the beautiful older German steins, this one has a 1L capacity and is very uncommon. Get one and enjoy the best Oktoberfest beer in one of these! Detailed and realistic carvings of humans, animals, and birds can be found on traditional steins made of ivory dating to a bygone era when ivory was used. Ivory steins evoke the classic Greek and Roman sculptures and murals, giving you highly detailed sculpts of great heroes and animals in pure ivory white. These periods were characterized by the shapes of the steins, the materials used for the lids and bases, hand-painted steins vs. machine-painted ones, and the mark found under each stein. The beauty of the German beer steins lies in the diversity of decorating styles. But German beer stein markings and decorations often told stories from the bible, animal-based fables, or German folk tales. Inevitably, it led to the production of now-valuable steins. The lid is the most effective way of identifying a steins age, price and quality. $ 119.39 $ 137.39. It may be created from two words. The first steins were simply mugs with a hinged lid that had an attached thumb lift. 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. A valuable German beer stein will not have these handle bumps, as they were only introduced to this antique design in the 1900s. Most steins made by machines have a flawless finish. The German Beer Stein is a mug designed for drinking beer. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 15 Most Valuable German Beer Stein Markings Worth Money, 17 Most Valuable Antique Punch Bowls Worth Money, 17 Most Valuable Antique Lamps Worth Money, 20 Most Valuable Antique Brooches Worth Money, 21 Most Valuable Basketball Cards Worth Money, 17 Most Valuable Dale Earnhardt Collectibles Worth Money, Benrus Watch Value (Identification & Price Guides), Antique Blue Willow China Value (Identification & Price Guides), Antique Car Blue Book (Car Value & Identificatiron), Old Buttons Value (Identification & Price Guides), Skeleton Key Value (Identification & Price Guides). Knowing everything you can about your stein and the current market for them with collectors can mean the difference of thousands of dollars. However, ivory often comes from at-risk animals, so you will need to check the legal status of your beer stein. Hand-painted steins will have a slightly imperfect look, but this adds to the character and individuality of each stein. . Calibration mark:It indicates the capacity of the stein, and its role is to allow room for beer froth. Vintage German Soldier Beer Stein, Burgermeister, Pickelhaube, Military, Pewter (#256022336393) c***v (285) - Feedback left by buyer c***v (285). How Do I Identify Old German Beer Steins? In Germany, beer is typically served in a maas aka 1 liter. These complement the stein and contribute to its uniqueness. They were made from molds, which lowers their uniqueness and value. This is why you may find an antique lid on a new Chinese stein. Quick view. These pieces are perhaps the earliest kinds of beer stein still found on the market. Soft silvery original metal lids formed the coverings of valuable German beer stein mugs, which makes them lighter inside than outside. Even though vessels with pewter fittings are still made in England today, silver, glass, and porcelain are frequently employed in their production. Older pieces come in various styles, sizes, and decorations. Germany passed a law requiring lids on all beer cups to stop the plague from spreading further. An excellent example is this beer stein with cherubs dressed in sashes. And usually, you can quickly identify markings and signs of a job not perfectly done. Often this is accomplished by manually carving a scene into the stein body, which is then painted or accented using bold colors to highlight the carving. For example, a 17th-century American tankard, which belonged to one family for generations, was sold for $140,000. If the number is behind the handle or imprinted in the base, it's probably just a form or mold number. Unfortunately, counterfeiters often apply a darkening agent to artificially age it. Additionally, they weigh a few pounds when the tray and the mug are together. So if you come across an almost flawless hand-painted German beer stein, its likely machine-made, thus, a newer piece. 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Early German beer steins from the 14th to the 17th centuries often had: By the mid-17th century, German beer and stoneware beer steins were in high demand. Due to its previous ownership, it has a few minor flaws. Still, even these machine-made mugs can be worth something if they have the privilege or provenance. The stein features the persona of Tannhuser, a lyric poet from the 13th century who, according to mythology, had an affair with Venus, the Roman goddess of beauty and love, and briefly resided in Venusberg with her. T Scherger is my great grandfather that come to America in 1856 from Bavaria. Its a colorful piece with soldiers on horses and lots of textual detail. Conical Lids: These lidsare the most widely used and least expensive models available. Sort By: Loreley St. Goar Rhein River Beer Stein $119.95 Out of stock 75 Years VE-Day Anniversary Beer Stein | Tank Lid $169.95 Add to Cart As for the artwork, youll rarely find nudes unless theyre angels, with their naughty bits tactically covered. It also says Geschultz, which means copyright or trademark. Artists are hand-painting the newer steins making it hard to tell the difference. We are passionate about Oktoberfest and we care about our customers. All rights reserved. I would love to know more about this Stein. But how do you know German beer steins value? We're talking about the big, lid-wearing beer steins seen at Oktoberfest celebrations. Receive the inside scoop on great deals and information on all things Oktoberfest. So a beer mug that tells a story is valuable because it sparks conversation during a casual drink-up or a home visitation. One of the easiest ways to know the value of an antique German beer stein is from its uniqueness and original decorations. Older steins made of crystal appear classy and delicate. The bottom of the mug has multiple verification stamps including Villeroy & Bosch. The same is valid with paintings of naked individuals. We try to put that feeling into every package we ship. Each stein comes in various shapes and sizes. bEach beer mug took a set amount of time and several different materials to create. It makes the lid lighter on the inside than the outside. Yes, you could drink out of them, but their main purpose was social and aesthetic. An old valuable German beer steins cover comprises a soft silvery material. 5 out of 5 stars (501) $ 154.95. A stein made of an expensive or rare material can give further context to why a stein might have a higher value. Provenance mark: Genuine German steins have been marked with Germany, Made in Germany, or Gemacht in Deutschland since 1887. Most beer steins come from Germany, where they were made at least as early as the 15th century. And this one features a soldier flirting with a girl who looks a lot like snow white. Lets find the most valuable German beer stein markings. Most of the time, ornate handcrafted beer steins are made of stoneware ceramics. You might occasionally see Germany. Collectors should look for a number of elements on a beer stein to ensure it is genuine and not a mass-produced replica. On the other hand, Westerwald beer steins were mass-produced. Stein production continued after World War II. The handle of this particular beer stein bears the letter G and the model number 231. Top makers include Capo-di-Monte, Mettlach, and Royal Vienna. As with other antique items, the age of a stein beer mug is crucial in determining its value. Contemporary beer steins made after World War II come in a wide variety, ranging from collectible steins to souvenirs and German gift-themed steins. This beer mug has the marks of use. Funnily enough, they can be made of ceramic, porcelain, glass, wood, and pewter lids. The mug is 6 12 inches wide with the handle attached, 12 inches tall to the top of the lid, and contains one liter. But because the lid mimics a spiked war helmet, the stein goes up in value. Markings that note the date, manufacture, limited edition run, etc. Its a ceramic object with cobalt blue sides and a pewter lid. Prices for antique German beer steins start at $95 and top out at $4,800 with the average selling for $395. Any precise information regarding a specific piece alone can make a difference of thousands of dollars. Additionally, its cost will probably increase because it is a handmade limited-edition item. Although the art ofGerman-branded steins and beer dates back to the Middle Ages, Germans took their love for beer to taverns, festivals, and beer gardens and complemented this with steins and tankards. You can sometimes guesstimate the tie period of a beer stein by looking at the images. But, then, authentic German steins have patriotic scenes and Folk tales as popular designs for carved steins bodies. A musician uses his violin to appease an irate alligator in this scene, which is set amidst the pyramids. Flat lids:Because manufacturers can easily engrave them, these pewter models with flat lids are popular. The lid is well carved, and the bottom is marked with the german word Geshultz. Discolorations resulting from neglect or being exposed to the elements, such as sun or water damage, additionally, evidence of repair work is negative. 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 . Siegburg, Cologne, Frechen, and Kreussen were the major centers for pottery production. They reflect the ancient artisans skill and imagination. Their styles include The Traditional, Bavarian, Potbelly, Tavern, Hourglass, Chalice, Smokestack, Hofbrau, Lodge and Barrel-style German beer steins and mugs. The best beer steins have easily-recognizable markings on the bottom. Beer steins can be made of ceramics, wood, glass, metal, or ivory. However, brilliant natural scenery surrounds them, and they are clad in colorful attire. Hope to buy from this seller again. The first molded steins were made in the region of Westerwald by Reinhold Hanke. Typically, the steins have a Made in Germany or Germany mark. Items made in Germany are known to have high levels of craftsmanship. Relatively expensive, the stoneware lidded drinking vessels soon became the subjects of Renaissance artists that added designs to make them even more appealing. The stamp under the beer stein confirms its hand-made (handgemalt). Vintage and authentic German beer steins can sell for anywhere between $50 and $5000. Flat lids were prized because they were easier to carve and therefore had more intricate dcor. When a beer stein is handmade, it will have human errors. The most typical were stoneware items with a stein lid that was always rigidly fixed. But there was also a lot of interest in the exquisite Chinese stein made in Germany. It helps to know beer steins were intended as treasured collectibles. With newer pieces, it helps to have a certificate of authenticity, and this beer stein has one. Tell us below! A distinctive characteristic of old steins is their imperfections. However, its not hard if you understand how to go about it. Historically, you might see made in West Germany, which automatically dates the product to the Cold War. 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. Interestingly, while these flaws might have been not so admirable at the time, they make the piece more valuable today. Nothing says thank you for your service like hand-crafted steins. Identifying Old Beer Can Values (That Can Be Worth Thousands), With some examples selling for thousands of dollars and others worth almost nothing, it's natural to wonder how vintage beer can values are determined. The variety of stein-decorating designs showcased the creativity and mastery of the top artisans of the time was the best. The P marking on the outer bottom means this is piece is a prototype. Most effective way of identifying a steins age, price and quality ). 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