Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original Imperial German regimental reservist beer stein, dating to 1897–1899 and named to Reservist Schüssler of the 4th Company, Kurhessisches Jäger-Bataillon Nr. 11, stationed at Marburg. The stein features elaborate hand-painted military decoration, including a red shoulder board bearing a crowned monogram, company rosters, and colorful scenes depicting soldiers in combat and camp. The hinged pewter lid is particularly interesting, featuring a decorative figure of Cupid preparing to shoot an arrow, together with floral ornamentation on the hinge. We have examined this example with reference to established guides for identifying original Imperial German regimental steins, and its construction and decorative characteristics are consistent with period manufacture. The stein has experienced considerable wear, including what appears to be an old break and repair to the base, extensive cracking through portions of the glazed body, and damage to the lid hinge. Despite these issues, the stein remains structurally solid and retains its personalized military decoration and much of its original appearance.

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. We have examined this stein thoroughly, with reference to several websites such as RealorRepro and SteveonSteins, and this one has all of the correct aspects for being original.

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. After the War Ended, the much reduced German armed forces now had ample resources to produce steins, and production was restarted.

This is a 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 a red shoulder board with a Crown over stylized M, for the Kurhessisches Jäger-Bataillon Nr. 11. The last names of the men of the company are to the left and right. The other side of the stein has depictions of these men in Battle firing rifles and them in camp. We can certainly tell that the names of these men were hand-painted, not printed. This example is named to Reservist Schüssler. This example looks to have seen heavy service and wear with the base looking to have been broken and repaired long ago.

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. In the center of the motif is a scroll with the unit designation, which is rather hard to read:

97 Bei D. 4. Comp. Jäger Battl. “Königin Marz.” Vol. Helt. No. 11 Marburg. 99

This denotes that Reservist Schüssler served in the 4th company of Jäger-Bataillon Nr. 11 from 1897-1899. The last names of the men of the company are to the left and right. We can certainly tell that the names of these men were hand-painted, not printed. The lid depicts cupid with an arrow about to shoot someone, with a lovely floral motif on the hinge. 

The lid is in fair shape, but the hinge shows repair and damage, and is now a bit loose. The stein measures approximately 9 inches in height, and is 4 3/8 inches across the base. The glaze is in fair condition, with some heavy cracking across from breakage and repair, though it is overall solid now. There is a lithopane on the interior, but it is very hard to see due to the heavy cracking. It is capacity marked 0,5 for half a liter, the standard capacity for these.

The Kurhessisches Jäger-Bataillon Nr. 11 reservist stein is an interesting example of the personalized military souvenirs produced during the final decades of Imperial Germany. Its 1897–1899 service dates, association with Reservist Schüssler, and identification of the 4th Company at Marburg preserve important details of the original owner's military service. The hand-painted company names, military scenes, crowned shoulder board, and unusual Cupid lid illustrate the decorative variety encountered on authentic prewar reservist steins. Although the vessel has sustained considerable damage and earlier repairs, it retains the essential personalized features that distinguish these objects from ordinary commercial beer steins. Its surviving inscriptions and identifiable regimental association make it a worthwhile example for collections focused on Imperial German military history, Jäger battalions, and nineteenth-century regimental memorabilia.