Item Description:
Up for sale is a beautiful, genuine turn-of-the-century antique German relief beer stein. This traditional stoneware tankard features a highly detailed, hand-painted cream relief scene depicting a classic tavern courtship vignette set against a deep forest green/cobalt glazed background. The piece is crowned with its original, intricately detailed pewter lid and functional thumb-lift hinge.
Historical Markings & Authentication:
The unglazed bottom of the stein features unique, hand-scratched marks that firmly date this piece to the late 1890s or early 1900s:
- Hand-Incised "Germany" Inscription: Located on the bottom left in faint, elegant cursive script. This hand-scratched country of origin mark points directly to the implementation of the McKinley Tariff Act of 1891, dating the piece precisely between 1891 and 1914.
- Finisher Mark "4": Hand-etched into the wet clay by the original factory artisan/decorator prior to firing.
- Capacity Mark "2": Hand-etched to indicate a 1/2 Liter fluid capacity.
Condition:
Excellent antique condition with no chips, cracks, or structural repairs to the stoneware body. The pewter lid retains an authentic, aged patina; the hinge is sturdy, properly aligned, and opens smoothly. The unglazed baseline shows natural shelf wear and darkening consistent with over a century of age.