Original Item: Only One Available. Perhaps no other collectible is so shrouded in myth, misinformation and mistaken identity as German regimental steins. These pieces have been steadily reproduced since the 1960s and most experts agree reproductions far outnumber authentic examples. Yet few buyers other than stein specialists know how to identify the fakes.

The majority of authentic German regimental beer steins were produced between about 1890 and 1914. During this time, military service was compulsory in Germany. Most men would take basic training between 17 and 20 and then enter the reserves until age 40. A group of men would enter a unit together, stay in the same unit for training and be discharged as a unit. This sense of togetherness fostered the custom of buying souvenirs with the unit name, insignias and decorations as a keepsake of military service. Many souvenir items were available such as pipes, clocks, flasks and especially steins. Rosters of names from your unit, or regiment, could be added to the steins and these became known to collectors as "regimental steins."

Authentic ca. 1890-1914 steins were available in pottery, porcelain, glass and metal. Regardless of what the stein was made of, almost all had pewter lids. The most common sizes are half-liter and one-liter. The beginning of WW I effectively ended the production of regimental steins as labor and materials were diverted to the war.

This is a very high quality original Imperial German Regimental beer stein. It is highly decorated on the exterior, and these were generally made with lovely design on the exterior, with banners and other areas where they were customized for the specific regiment / unit that the person ordering the stein requested. These were usually ordered in groups for a particular regiment, and this example is marked in the center with the CROWN / EL cypher of Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse. To the right is the Red / White/ Red flag of the Grand Duchy of Hesse and by Rhine (Großherzogtum Hessen und bei Rhein), and there are portraits of Kaiser Wilhelm II on the left, and Ernest Louis on the right. There is a lovely printed scene from Darmstadt, the capital of the Grand Duchy and some lovely scenes.

Directly under the lid is the statement Es lebe hoch das Regiment, das sich mit Stoß Leibgarde nennt., which translates roughly to "Long Live the Regiment that is called the Life Guards". Under this it is named to Gefreiter Heidenreich.. and at the bottom of the printed scene is Erinnerung an meine Dienstzeit (A reminder of my Service). The bottom of the stein under the colorful painted scene has the somewhat long regimental designation:

9. Comp. Leibgarde Inftr. Regt. 1. Großh. Hess. Nr. 115 Darmſtadt. 1908-1910

This is a clear reference to the 1. Großherzoglich Hessisch Leibgarde Infanterie Regiment Nr. 115, or the 115th (1st Grand Ducal Hessian) Lifeguard Infantry Regiment. First raised on 1 March 1621 and garrisoned in Darmstadt, this Regiment was a "Lifeguard" regiment, linked to the Grand Duke of Hesse, who at the time was Ernest Louis. Of interest is that his sister, Princess Alix of Hesse and by Rhine, would marry Czar Nicholas II of Russia, becoming Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. A granddaughter of Queen Victoria, she was a carrier of hemophilia, which she would pass on to Tsesarevich Alexei. The regiment was part of the  XVIII Army Corps and took part of WWI, after which it was dissolved along with much of the German army.

The stein indicates that Heidenreich was in the 9th Companie, and served 1908-1910. At the time Germany had mandatory military service for all able-bodied males. As he was a reservist, he most likely would have been called up at the outbreak of WWI. There are also lots of other inscriptions on the body of the stein, probably patriotic phrases and maybe poems or the like, and there also look to be a listing of the other reservists in the regiment.

There is no maker mark on the bottom of the stein, however that is not uncommon. The lid is in great shape, and the joint with the hinge is still solid, though the connection to the handle is a bit loose. There is an 0,5 marking next to the lid, indicating a 0.5 liter capacity, standard for these. The stein measures approximately 9 1/4 inches in height, and is 4 3/8" across the base. The glaze is in very good condition, showing some cracking in areas, and there is a chip at the very bottom of the stein about 1/2 inch wide. The bottom of the inside has an embossed design that may be a maker's mark.

A very impressive display item from the German Empire, ready to research and display!