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Why the lids on beer steins? [2] Once there, they became something to decorate.

It is of course what makes a ‘beer stein’, a “beer stein” = THE LID!

This page was produced for the very new collector, who might not have any idea what a “work of art’ an old beer stein lid (up to WWII) might look like.

I have purchased some steins only because I really enjoyed the lid. (Just did it again at the Myrtle Beach 2010 SCI Convention.) Posted are some different / unusual lids to give the beginning stein collectors and the non-collector reader, some idea of the range of what might be found “out there!”

Much older steins, say pre-1840, if they had any added lid decor at all, might have a molded roundel in relief in the middle of the flat lid, mostly with hunting or religious scenes. A few are shown just below:

ST ISADORE AND THE ANGEL DOING HIS FARM WORK.

[Top] St. Isadore praying at his church, while the angel does his work in his master’s field. He is now the German Patron Saint for Farmers. Lid is Circa 1840. [Middle] Small porcelain insert wih a “cherub.” [Bottom] typical deer family in a relief scene, and filthy dirty pewter.

Also see the “Bawdy” Tab, on this web site, for other types of lids.

A FEW STANDARD / GENERIC PEWTER RELIEF LIDS COMMON TO THE PERIOD, 1830’s TO 1914.

[L] Heidelberg Castle overlooking the city. Circa 1880-90. [R] Alpine tools and dress. By G.Th M. (See carved deer bones below.)

[L] Alt German and his Drinking horn. Circa 1885. [R] Symbolical animals for drinking problems: The monkey (alcoholism = “a monkey on your back”) and the cat (hangover.) Circa 1870.

[l] For a musician or musical group. [R] On a marriage stein. Circa 1830.

The four below: Examples of when the thumblift becomes the focus of the entire lid.

An over sized Sphinx on a Westerwald “Mud stein.” Circa 1860.

UNUSUAL PROCESSES

[L] An unusual heavy relief porcelain lid of scene from an old opera love story: The Count, on discovering the affair, punishes “Mazeppa” by tying him naked to a wild horse and setting the horse loose. [R] Painted inside molded glass, of the Katzenjammer, German slang for “The Hangover.”

[L] An engraved saying (In Remembrance) on the glass lid. [R] Heavy deep cuts into the red stain on a fire-fighter’s stein.

OCCUPATIONALS

[L] Gilded relief lid, probably presented to a sheep breeder as a plain shepherd couldn’t afford one such as this and on an engraved glass stein . Circa 1830. [R] For a wheel maker. Circa 1860.

[L] On a fire-fighter’s occupational. Circa 1890. [R] An “Occupational” lid for a farmer. Circa 1880.

SPORTS

[L] “Kegels,” (9 pins), the original bowling gamer. Circa 1880. [R] Billiards

SPECIAL EMPHASIS

Lids with a finial that further emphasizes the body’s scene. [L] The finial is Hans Sacks, a hero of Nuremberg: while the thumblift is a medieval “Harpie”, part of the City’s Coat of Arms. Circa 1885. [R] Lid on a Heidelberg 500 year anniversary majolica stein, and the thumblift is a medieval Griffin.

[L] I believe many of these ladies’ faces on lids were done in person, or taken from another portrait (as some of them really show “The Lee Sisters: ‘Home’ and ‘Ug ‘! ) [R] A well done miniature, showing various ways to drink. It is a shame I don’t have a full faced photo of this one. A great thumblift too. Circa 1870-

SKULLS

[L] On a very old coconut, pewter mounted stein. [R]: On a Circa 1900’s clear glass stein.

GERMAN BREWERY STEIN – LIDS ARE SOMETIMES VERY ELABORATE

[L] Kochellbrau (brewery), Munich, unknown pewter-smith. [R] Eber-brau (brewery) Munich – A boar as thumblift also.

[L] 5 liter brewery [located just south-east of Munich] stein, by J. Lichtinger. [R] An older style of lid advertisement.

RESERVIST’S – MILITARY

BEER COUNTER LIDS

While these two are cat’s tails, there are many variations of the moveable drink counters to be found.

STEVE’S SPECIAL NOTE ON THESE LIDS: DO NOT USE ANYTHING HARDER THAN A LIQUID SOAP AND A SOFT TOOTHBRUSH TO CLEAN THESE!! THE COPPER COATING [ON THE MOLDED SPELTER] COMES OFF QUITE EASILY!!

J. LICHTINGER MUNICH – PEWTER-SMITH EXTRAORDINAIRE

J. Lichtinger, Munich, produced a great series of lids for a series of tall pewter overlaid glass steins. Four of those lids are shown above. One of the series’ steins is shown below:

Many other lids of Lichtinger’s were bought by other decorating house in Munich, such as Martin Paulson, and marked with the distributor’s name, but not Lichtinger’s!

SEASONS / MONTHS

[L] “Spring” [R] “July” – The headdress and clothes are all leaves !

The four seasons. Damn shame about the crack.

BRONZE / BRONZED

COLLECTORS; BE VERY CAREFUL IN HOW YOU THREAT THESE SO CALLED “BRONZE” LIDS !!

They are not ‘bronze’ but thinly copper plated ‘spelter.’ Any hard scrubbing or too much ammonia will wear away the plating!

SEE: http://www.steveonsteins.com/how-i-clean-old-copper-brass-pewter-and-silver-10-20

STEVE’S SPECIAL NOTE ON THESE LIDS: DO NOT USE ANYTHING HARDER THAN A LIQUID SOAP AND A SOFT TOOTHBRUSH TO CLEAN THESE!! THE COPPER COATING [ON THE MOLDED SPELTER] COMES OFF QUITE EASILY!!

PAINTED PORCELAIN LIDS

[L] A family portrait. [R] An ‘old fart’ trying to start another family!

Above: Two hunting related porcelain lids = a very popular German stein lid subject.

[L] ” Gasthaus” drinking scene. [R] Excellent painted porcelain insert of ‘Germania’ and her ‘Watch on the Rhine.’ Circa 1860-70.

{FWTD] One of my new favorites. (2011) . It shows the French Emperor Napoleon III, getting his ass kicked by a Prussian boot. The Empress is shown as as a camp woman carrying a stick sack with his crown in it! This is on a Westerwald, scratched checkerboard decor, one liter, stoneware stein.

SILVER

[L] Layered coins on a glass stein . [TSACO] [R] Very unusual 8 sided design engraved .800 silver lid, on a .5 liter cranberry glass stein. Circa 1850. [FWTD]

[L] Silver plated (lost a lot) with unknown family’s coat of arms. Made in Hanau, Germany. Circa 1870. [FWTD]

CARVED DEER BONE LIDS

[L] The German wild turkey. [R] Alpine tools and clothes. (Compare with all pewter relief above.)

[R] Shows the Munich Maid and some dwarfs. [EX- FWTD] The twin towers are in the background. Very ornate.

[FWTD]

CARVED LIDS ON WOODEN STEINS

A few “chip carved” lids from Scandinavia, done in the mid to late 1800’s {L] This is a great example of the carved “ROYAL” lion found on Scandinavian steins from the 1700’s into the early 1800’s. And not all the type steins come from Norway as “The Stein Book” would have you believe! Others: typical Scandinavian design found in most of the 10 countries that line the Baltic Sea!

Just about “The Mother of All Lids!” Painting done by Fr. van Hauten. Unknown lid maker. Circa 1890.

LIDS ON SOME OF THE NEW POTTERY RELIEF STEINS

Below: What I think are extremely dumb looking. But as my dad used to say “There is someone out there for somebody!.”

These over weighted lids are on a lot of “brand new” steins. These are made for display only. No way can anyone drink out of them a lot and not have the lid eventually just rip off the stein.