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. 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.

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 for the 1st Royal Bavarian Chevau-légers "Emperor Nicholas of Russia". The last names of the men of the company are to the left and right, and there is a maker’s mark behind the hinge for J. Kallmünzer of Nurnberg. The other side of the stein has depictions of these men in Battle firing rifles and charging into combat on horseback. We can certainly tell that the names of these men were hand-painted, not printed. This example is named to Leonhard Fink. The top of the stein under the lid has the regimental designation:

1. Chev.-Rgt. ,,Kaiser Nikolaus v. Rukland’’ 5. Esk. Nuremberg 1908/1911

This is a clear reference to the 1st Royal Bavarian Chevau-légers "Emperor Nicholas of Russia". The regiment was formed in 1682 and fought in the Battle of Vienna, the Great Turkish War, the War of the Spanish Succession, the War of the Austrian Succession, the Napoleonic Wars, the Austro-Prussian War, the Franco-Prussian War, and World War I. It was dissolved in 1919.

The stein indicates that Fink was in the 5th troop or company, and served from 1908 to 1911 in Nuremberg. At the time Germany had mandatory military service for all able-bodied males. As a reservist he was most likely 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.

The lid may have originally had a man riding a horse on top, but there is now nothing there. The bottom of the inside has a lovely lithopane showing a soldier on horseback and his sweetheart.

The stein measures approximately 10 inches in height, and is 4 1/2" across the base. The glaze is in very good condition, showing some cracking in areas. There is no size marked, but it is most likely 0.5 Liters, the standard capacity for these.

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