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Unanswered Questions About Beer Steins and Other Drinking Vessels. (With Some Answers.)

Although I’ve been collecting beer steins, tankards, beakers, pokals, and other drinking vessels for over 40 years now, there is still a wealth of information that other people have that I or the collecting masses do not. Therefore this web-site and also this informational page.

Anyone with even the slightest information on any of the listed questions is asked to drop me an email at . No possible “answer” will be made fun of, I can assure you.

[? 1]

What does “the lion holding the ball” as a thumblift mean? These are seen on northern German (Baltic) steins and Scandinavian wooden and silver pieces. Shown: Pewter roerken, dated 1715, from Lubeck, Germany.

Scandinavian, wood, Circa 1750. The ball is very small between his paws.

Again Scandinavian, a silver stein with lion and ball feet.

[? 2]

Also found on the pewter roerken pictured above is this symbol.

Symbols were used to indicate other things, in this case the symbol for the Guild that used these steins. I have tried to find this symbol everywhere in the last 6 months. I am leaning towards this having something to do with an early weaving too, but = ?

Any additional information would be appreciated.

[? 3]

This is a very collectible lithophane (mostly found at the bottom of a rather plain porcelain stein.) To date I have no idea: [1] Who (and when) painted the original? [2] Who the woman is ? [3] Is that a halo around her head or her hat? [4] What does the scene signify?

So here are some of the answers I got back:

[a] BEST [MALE] ANSWER ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON:

Dear SLS, Begging the pardon of any ladies or wannabeez present, the sole or soul object of the gift-giver here is to get a good look down her blouse. And he’s taking his time beneath the mask of care so he can observe several cycles of her breathing. Have fun. (an older “gentleman”?)

And it may be this is the best answer ever on this question; as here’s another example also seen on a lithophane, this on a colored one .

[b] BEST ANSWER ABOUT THE HALO [=?]:

I guess I think it is a ‘cap’ of sorts. I really believe it to be the woman’s hair that has been braided and she has wrapped her braids around the back of her head. My grandmother wore her hair this way. It was a ‘fashion’ for women who never cut their hair usually for religious reasons but their hair was too heavy to hang down without causing discomfort. I believe after fashioning her braids around her head, she has covered them with a “snood”-type of hair covering. I probably won’t get any others agreeing with me, but I would bet a nickel I am correct.

“Snood” is historically a type of European female headgear, or in modern times a tubular neck scarf. In the most common form the headgear resembles a close-fitting hood worn over the back of the head. A tighter-mesh band may cover the forehead or crown, then run behind the ears and under the nape of the neck.

A sack of sorts dangles from this band, covering and containing the fall of long hair gathered at the back. A snood sometimes was made of solid fabric, but more often of loosely knitted yarn or other net-like material. Historically (and in some cultures still in use today) a small bag—netted, tatted, knitted, crocheted, or knotted (see macrame)—of fine thread, enclosed a bob of long hair on the back of the head or held it close to the nape.

Modern hair nets, commonly in use where shed human hair may be undesirable, are often made of micro-fibre. In modern times the word also has come to be applied to a tubular neck protector or warmer, often worn by skiers or motorcyclists. The garment may be worn either pulled down around the neck like a scarf, or pulled up over the hair and lower face, like a hood.

Answer from Ms. Judy Stuart

[c] from an astute reader:

Steve, See the attached link. I happen to own an artist original watercolor used for the lithophane.
Provaggi was a conventional late19th Century Italian watercolorist. The male is a clergyman, the female has an apron full of vegetables in the full picture.

It appears that the lithophane maker took some liberties with the original work.
In the original the girl doesn’t have a “halo”, or a thin, by modern standards, more attractive face.

Art de Anna

Thanks a multitude Art! Steve

Artist: Cesare Provaggi.

[? 4]

Does anyone have an idea about the significance of this scene? = From below the hunters to the top of the flowers on the angel’s head. Found on a 8.5 inch tall, yellow stained Bohemian, cut-to-clear beaker. Circa 1860.

[? 5]

At about what year did the color “orange-ish tan” appear on both the top rim, and the bottom base rim on most pottery relief beer steins? Why did the German makers do that? This has continued to this day; why?

[? 6]

At about what date do the “finger hooks” (for lack of better word – I just made it up) . appear on the inside and outside of handles of steins and servers? As shown below▼:

Regenburger probably.May be a Westerwald?

By Gerz, in the Westerwald.

[? 7]

This “bronzed” (not bronze) lid is on a hobnail stein. Circa 1860 -70. What is the occupation shown? And why is one man on his knees on the floor?

[? 8]

How many of these does one think were made before someone realized there were only 11 stripes shown on our flag? They do shown 45 stars, which makes the stein made somewhere between January 1896 (Utah) and October 1907 (Oklahoma), assuming the dumb shits had counted them from a model!

Any of my readers have, or seen a corrected copy ?

I received an immediate answer from fellow collector Barney, who lives in “Almost West-By-God Virginia.”

If they miscounted the number of stripes, it’s quite possible they got the stars wrong as well – which got me thinking, so I looked it up: And I was right – so you (may not) even date the stein that way (100%)

Note that the real flag alternates between 8 & 7 stars / row, whereas the stein flag has 9 across on ea. row. The real flag is 6 stars down – the flag on the stein is only 5 down, with the 9 across = 45. It also looks like the artist used a common nail for the flag-staff model on the stein.

Thanks for the input Mr. Barney

[? 9]

I have been a pewter stein collector for years, and yet I can not find out the answer to this question. What the hell is this single “peg” doing here so close to the top (seen mostly on servers) ? Was it an indicator to the serving girl that that was the piece’s full capacity? I would hardly think she’d need a pin to tell her that. So what is your theory? sls

On 2-3-2012 I recieved this answer from Herr. Robert Weis, a pewter stein collector in Munich”

I went through the unanswered question part today, and I can certainly answer the question 9 about the peg at the side of pewter mugs. These are typical for southern German and Austrian pewter vessels, and they are indeed marks for measuring. You can imagine, that somebody paying for a drink in a tavern or sending his kid to the neighbourhood brewery wanted his money’s worth. So most drinking vessels had this peg added by the pewtersmith to indicate the right measure. Contrary to the modern “Mass” (Mass = measure) of beer at the Oktoberfest which today is one liter, the old Bavarian “mass” was about 1.1 liters, it was abolished in the mid 19th century when all German measures where changed to the metric system. You can actually test it, most vessels will hold one “mass”, 1.1 liters if you fill the up to the peg. Larger or smaller vessels might also have 0.55, 1.65 or 2.2 liters, but it is always multiples of the old Bavarian “Mass”. And, of course, all modern beer glasses do have small indications on the side to show when the right measure of beer has been filled in.

Many thanks to you Sir Weis!

[? 10]

Okay, this is obviously an un-lidded” stein” (two liter in size) and not jut a mug / jug given the lidded ones in next two photos below. [FWTD] All three were made at Regensburg, Germany, by Fritz Thenn Co., 1877-1886, and not in the Westerwald.

[Please see John’s McGregor’s site page for more info on Fritz Thenn: http://www.thepatriotexchange.com/pss/fthenn.htm]

I have never seen the original Gothic / Medieval piece that these were copied from. As these two pieces are the only ones I have seen in 41 years , I think not too many were made. The reason? that outward protruding section just below the lip would have trapped the beer and then when tilted far enough back, it would be like a dam overflowing. Anyone seen the original? Even a photo of one in a museum would be helpful! sls

[? 11]

From this site’s “Wildman” page:

This is on a /18th liter kinder mug. While this figure is certainly ‘wild’, it is not the German “Wildman” and in fact several of us collectors have no idea who or what he represents. Some say he is being sacrificed. If so, why all the stoneware jars in front of him?

Editor’s note, 5/24/13: I have one of these at home and finally got it out and studied it for a few minutes and soon figutred out this was a depiction of the Norse god Noki = Their God of fire! The key point which not shown on this photo are the side scenes with several of he Norse or Teutons warriers kneeling down to him.This along witht he Priestess with her arms outstretched towards him and him not havuing a halo (a Chritain attribute) but a star behind his head finallized it in my mind. The pots are a clue as they need “firing” to become hard.

[? 12]

I don’t find these guys too attractive (especially with the flat tin lids), but I am curious: What glass firm made these?

Long time glass collector David Harr as usual, being very verbose, says: “Don’t know! “

[? 13]

Who / what city / area made this beer server?

Where was this made? (Certainly not Raeren or the Westerwald.)

When was it made?

What is that animal? Lion. panther ? I find it hard to believe that it is someone’s Lion! It looks more like a web footed salamander to me.

Editor’s note: Well if one has enough time and looks long enough .

Here below is a very close example of what now look more like a lion holding an orb. Also dubbed by seller as being on a Westerwald stein or server.

Picture and the Coat of Arms of one of the Holy Roman Electors.

[?14]

WHO IS THIS GUY AND WHAT IS HE DOING?

SEE THE ARTICLE: Guest writer’s articles [8] “Proskau Fayence Beer Steins,” by William Hamer.

The answer was again supplied by Herr. Richard Weis in Munich. — This is Hercules.

“You show a fayence mug (sic) from Proskau in Nr. 14. The person shown is the antique hero Hercules. He is quite often shown stark naked only wearing his lion skin (here he seems to be sitting on it) and of course carrying his club. Do not ask me what the bow means, but there certainly is a relation in antique mythology. ”

I and my readers thank you Mr. Weis.

[? 15]

WHERE FROM AND HOW OLD?

I now [2-2012]have reason to suspect that these three very similar piece are from Moravia (Austria-Hungary, just east to Bohemia) and I believe all date about Circa 1850 70 . These pieces have previously be associated with Weygang by some stein auctioneers and sellers, but I never thought that. Too much wear and other indicators of real age. I just didn’t know where they were from, and am still not 100% positive. Any additional info will be certainly welcome.

FROM A PRIOR POST ON STEVEONSTEINS:

UNKNOWNS – As of 5-1-2011: I am 99% certain this large, 18 inch tall, server was NOT made by Weygang. It is not in shown in the book “ZNAV” nor anything that has the claw and ball feet such as this one, and now others have been added (2012 .) I will continue to search for the maker of these pieces,