Antique Ape and Gnome Germany Lidded Glass Beer Stein, 1890s

Antique Traditional German Lidded Glass Jug Beer Stein Pewter Porcelain German Glass, Pewter, Porcelain Late 19th Century Dimensions: H x D: 18cm x 14cm Crafted in the late 19th century, this German beer stein exemplifies the enduring tradition of the classic drinking vessel. Beer steins originated in 14th century Germany, when new sanitation laws required beverage containers to have lids to prevent contamination. This led to the creation of the lidded stoneware mug with a thumb lever for ease of use, eventually known as the beer stein. From the 16th to the 18th centuries, German artisans refined the craft, producing beautifully decorated examples made from stoneware, pewter, glass and porcelain. By the 19th century, beer steins had become both practical drinking vessels and artistic expressions of German culture, often featuring intricate reliefs and regional or historical themes. Their popularity spread throughout Europe, reflecting not only the rich brewing traditions but also the artistry and craftsmanship of the era. The present example features a glass body adorned with circular cut facets throughout. Its bulbous handle provides a comfortable grip and is topped with a pewter lid. The lid’s porcelain plaque displays a transfer-printed scene depicting a man standing on the edge of a cliff with a rifle, gazing towards his hunted prey. Scenes such as this were popular at the time, emphasizing German pride and the fine craftsmanship for which these steins became renowned. The thumb lever, cast in the form of a mask surrounded by scrolling motifs, is generously sized to make lifting the lid effortless. With its intricate porcelain plaque and finely faceted glass body, this antique stein...

German Antique Late 19th Century Lidded Glass Jug Beer Stein Porcelain Pewter German Glass, Pewter, Porcelain Late 19th Century Dimensions: H x D x W: 17cm x 14.5cm Crafted in ...

A fine antique glass beer stein. Consisting of a handled stein with a lid decorated throughout with hand painted enamel floral motifs and green line...

A fine antique 18th century pewter & glass beer stein. In the form of a glass stein mounted with a pewter lid and pewter foot rim. Monogrammed...

For sale is an original beer stein. It belongs to a German fraternity recognizable by the inscription "Ehre, Freundschaft, Vaterland" (honor, friendship, fatherland) and FSv on the p...

Colossal antique Emile Gallé vase in frosted and orange art glass carved in the form of flowers and foliage. Japanism, 1890s. Museum quality. Measures: 45.5 x 16.2 cm. In excellent...

1930s Art Deco “Jr. Skyscraper” Beer Stein – Stone’s Grill, Ohio This rare 1930s Art Deco beer stein hails from Stone’s Grill, formerly known as Picken’s Palace Restaurant in Ohio. Famous for serving the “Tallest Glass of Beer”, Stone’s custom glass steins...

An Early American Pressed Glass pedestal cake stand, in a Beaded Raindrop pattern, circa 1890 -1900. Made of nonflint, clear molded glass, this tall and heavy stand has a thick pede...

Antique Ceramic Porcelain German Lidded Beer Stein Jug Villeroy & Boch German Ceramic, Pewter, Porcelain c. 1900 Dimensions: H x D: 16cm x 13cm This superb beer stein was crafte...

Antique German Lidded Blue Glazed Earthenware Beer Stein Jug Merkelbach Wick German Earthenware, Metal c. 1900 Dimensions: H x D: 18.5cm x 13.5cm This fine beer stein was made by Merkelbach Wick, a German stoneware factory based in Grenzhausen. Founded around 1872–1873 by Friedrich Wilhelm Merkelbach II and Georg Peter Wick, the firm became known for its fine earthenware and, from the early 1880s onward, its ivory stoneware, which blended traditional craftsmanship with emerging artistic styles. Their creations gained particular popularity in North America, with roughly half of their production exported there by the late 19th century. Merkelbach Wick’s beer steins were especially notable: many 19th and early 20th century pub steins, including those produced for major breweries, were crafted in salt-glazed or ivory stoneware and often bore the distinctive ‘M W Gr.’ impressed seal - such as the one on this example - making them highly prized by collectors today. Crafted from earthenware, this stein features moulded high-relief decoration encircling the entire body. Various geometric borders frame a central band filled with naturalistic and mythological motifs. Oval cartouches contain classical busts, while the spaces between them depict centaurs, symbolising the duality of human nature and the tension between intellect and instinct. The deep blue glaze accentuates the raised decoration while allowing parts of the ivory-coloured earthenware to remain visible for contrast. The prominent earthenware handle is decorated in the same style as the body, and the vessel is topped with a hinged metal lid. Its generously sized thumb lever allows the drinker to comfortably raise the lid, and the top is inset with a beautifully modelled earthenware panel. On the base remains the original Merkelbach Wick label, highlighting the firm's international reach with branches in Philadelphia, Vienna, and Munich. The earthenware is also impressed with their ‘M W Gr.’ mark, used between c. 1879 and 1921. With its detailed design and superb craftsmanship from a renowned manufacturer, this antique stein...