Part of the “From Which to Drink” Collection of German “Kinderkrugs.”
I have for over a year now placed these three short “notifications” at the bottom of each page!
My web site was really started as an informational site for beginning beer stein collectors that would be looking for the info and not the general public.
My SO if one puts in “Wood Steins” or “Hand painted steins,” it
STILL =
[L] A colored version showing ‘Knusperhexe’ (the witch) and the two kids. [R] “Making the Snowman” – This little snowman stein has universal appeal and is hard to find.
“Sleeping Beauty” (“Dornroschen”), also called ”Briar Rose.” –
{L] She sticks her finger and falls asleep [R] the prince finding her.
[L] ”Pied Piper ” (Rattentanger, or The Rat Catcher) [R] Goose keeper girl (Gänse liesel)
Repunzal – this is a ‘JoMo’, No. 4002 .
[L] “Struwelpeter” (Shock haired Peter), the idea behind “Edward Scissor Hands” [R] Others need to be researched to find out which fairy-tale the scene is taken from. What a great nose, hey? She’s a mouse, but what is he? I think maybe he is a troll!
“Mr. Frog’s photography.”
[L] “ScHLARAFFEMAN” — Anyone know what story this one comes from ? {R] Part of the Christmas story: Mary, Joseph, the Donkey and the “Tannenbaum.”
This series of “pre-teen”, ¼ liter (and 1/8th liter also) kinder mugs (shown below) comes with painted, both blue and green, and unpainted swirled flower stem designs on their sides. The flowers blossoms around the top may or may not be painted also. On some the flowers are blue; on others they are brown. To complicate matters the flower size not just color, may be different too. The center roundel with the fairy-tale can be found in matching green or blue.
HAPPY LOVING COUPLES
I suppose the reason for all the “happy couples” that end up on thesevessels is the idea of conveying the happiness between the two parents that presented the child with the gift. I can come up with no other reason for the vast amount of mugs/steins taking this approach. I’d estimate that at least 15 to 20 per cent of “Kinder” pieces show this type of scene. Most of them show a couple just sitting and talking to each other, which as life in the late 19th century would have it, was pretty much how I think it must have been.
A SUB-SET OF HAPPY OR IN LOVE COUPLES = ”DANCING COUPLES”
Again I suppose the idea was to show a happy couple, this time engaged in one of the German’s favorite night time pursuits, dancing the “Schuhplattler” (not “The Chicken-Dance”, although they probably would have loved it), this is called “The Flat Shoe dance”.
While this ‘little one’ has nothing to do with dancing, it does show even well know other firms were making “Kinders.” This one is from the famous decorating firm of August Saltzer (and scarce!)
PLAYING MUSIC
Playing of the accordion, or a small harpsichord, or the lute are examples of this type music playing scene.
[L] A mom showing her daughter how to play. [R] HEINZELMÄNCHEN. This one was made by Diesenger (marked DRGM 154927.) (Minor losss !!)
FOLK SCENES
Franz von Defregger’s Tyrolean life scenes are perhaps the most popular of the folk scenes found on all types of beer steins and mugs, not just “kinders”. This artist, Franz Defregger was born on 30 April 1835 in Stronach, Tirol, on the so-called Edererhof. He was a painter of Austrian genre and historical scenes. He studied in Munich with Piloty. He is most known for his popular pictures of Tyrolean life, which depend largely for their interest on their fine characterization and humor. Good examples are The Last Summons and Zither Player (both: Vienna). He died on 2 January 1921 in Munich. (3)
FAMOUS PEOPLE / HISTORICAL
[L] Rembrandt and Sasha – a pre-teen kinder = 5 inches tall. [R] Good old St. Nicholas and his bag.
Middle: Hermann, the German. The Hero of the battle oF Teutoburger Wald in 9AD. (SEE TAB: ON HERMANN’S STORY -THIS WEB SITE) [L and R] Greek-Roman warrior profiles on sides. There are lot of these “famous” people are Greek warrior profiles. Most have no names, which I would have thought would have been included as a learning tool for the child.
MYTHS
[l] One of the biggest myths ever? This dude got his strength through his hair ? [R] ”The Maiden of Drachenfels”
MISCELLANEOUS (Always an interesting category as one never knows what one might find “out there”. )
[L] A young gal with her dog {R] From the City of Milwaukee
[L] An Art Deco kinder showing that old wolf again – in Grandma’s night gown. Pretty scarce. {R] Another kinder that tells a story not defined yet. Any help out there in beer stein land ?
MISCELLANEOUS GERMAN PHRASES / SAYINGS
“Wohlbekoms”, “Zum Andeneken”, and “Ein Trunk macht jung”.
KIDS PLAYING
[L] Hobby horse [R] Stein entitled “Die Soldaten” (The Soldiers.)
“FREEBIES” – ADVERTISING — JO-MO’S
Seen in this category are kinder steins and mugs that advertise products. There is a series of “Kinder mugs” that back in the 1930’s to the 1960’s came as premiums with the purchase of vinegar or mustard, etc., from the German firm of “Jo-Mo” (with a stamped blue and white paper seal). These are very distinct in their lack of crisp detail, and “most” having only two side scenes; but a lot of them show fairy tales, therefore are highly collectable. The numbering system that has been seen stamped into the bottom of these mugs ranges from #3957 to #4092 (and maybe higher or lower).
[L] JoMo’S No, 4000 to the right. The other one is from an unknown maker.
PRE-TEEN STEINS
Pre-teen steins are those that are 1/4 liter or larger, but with a motif that children would still enjoy having and using. Types seen: Defregger, Historical, Heinzelmänchen, and the older folk and more advanced fairy tales/legends. Also famous German paintings such as “Rembrandt”.
For more Kinder steins and mugs; please got to the Tab: “Heinzelmänchen” this web site
ORIGIN MARKINGS OF KINDER STEINS AND MUGS
[A] No country stamp/markings. Perhaps the oldest, meant for use inside Germany, no export.
[b] “Germany”. Stamped thus to meet USA import laws. As there were lots of German children within the USA, this would have been a lucrative little business. This word was stamped on all steins regardless as the manufacturer couldn’t be certain which lot of steins produced by his firm would stay in Germany.
[c] “Made in Germany”. I have seen many different starting dates written for this USA import mark change; I’m sticking with 1912 for now, until someone shows me an actually document; it lasted until October 1949.
[d] “Made in Western Germany”. Mark used after WWII, when Germany was split into two very separate and political jurisdictions, between October 1949 and October 1990,
[e] “Made in Germany” [II], Started again sometime after October 1990, after the reunification of the two Germanies.
MAKERS
Most makers are unknown due to no markings at all anywhere on the steins .
“Marziand Remy” did a series with an alpine house on both sides of the mug. Various center scenes.
Some are marked: “FOREIGN”
ARTICLE’S FOOTNOTES:
(1) Email from Herr Gunther Knickel to Stephen Smith, November-2002
(2) Excerpt from “And A Child Shall Lead Them”, article by Leonce Miller, in PROSIT, (the magazine of Stein Collector’s International), page 628, Dec.1979
(3) From: Encyclopedia @ Infoplease.com
(4) Email from Les Paul 12-18-2002: ”…. These are all 1/8th liter size steins. All the children related steins seem to be this size and I think they were meant to be used by kids. 100 years ago, kids were given a little beer to drink with meals. Beer is, or was, thought of more as a liquid bread or food than an alcoholic beverage. My Grandparents gave me a small portion of beer, and on a special occasion, wine with meals as early as I can remember; but they would never let me try schnapps of strong drinks. ………………. Les. “ (12-18-2002)
Most of the kinder mugs / steins shown in this article are in Smith’s Museum and Tavern’s “From Which to Drink” collection.
[END – SNOTOK – 49 – DD]
“Earth is the insane asylum for the universe.”
Leave a Reply