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 a large 29 in a shield, and at the bottom it is named to NCO Unteroffizier=Reserve. Spies.. Just under the lid is marked with the regimental designation:

12. Komp., Inf.-Regt. von Horn (3. Rhein.) Nr. 29, Trier 1913-14

This is a clear reference to the 29th (3rd Rhenish) Infantry "von Horn" Regiment, first raised 5 December 1813 and garrisoned in Trier on the river Moselle near the current day border with Luxembourg. This city in the Rhineland is very old, founded by Celts in the 4th Century B.C., and conquered 300 years later by the Romans. The 29th regiment was part of the VIII Army Corps, and saw service in WWI, as it was quite close to the border with France. After this it was dissolved along with much of the German army.

The stein indicates that Spies was in the 12th Kompanie, and served 1913-1914. 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 illustrations with inscriptions on the body of the stein, probably patriotic phrases and maybe poems or the like.

The lid shows two infantry soldiers at the top, and has RESERVE / HAT RUH (The reservist has peace) at the front, and there are saying dedicated to reservists on the sides of the lid, which read (translation below):

IHR BRÜDER STOSST DIE GLÄSER AN ES LEBE DER RESERVEMANN
You Brothers Collect Your Glasses Long Live The Reserve Man

and

DER TREU GEDIENT HAT SEINE ZEIT DEM SEI EIN VOLLES GLAS GEWEIHT
He who has done his service shall have a full glass dedicated to him

The bottom of the stain has some numbers and letters stamped into it, which are most likely some type of maker or ceramic company markings, which we are unfortunately unable to identify. There is also a small maker mark under the hinge above the handle.

The lid is in good condition, though it definitely is a bit deformed around the bottom. The joint with the hinge is still solid. The body of the stein shows repaired cracks near the top reaching down around 3 inches, so we would guess it was dropped or fell over long ago. The repairs were very well done, and in some places can barely be seen. The stein measures approximately 12 1/2 inches in height, and is 4 1/2" across the base. The glaze is in very good condition, showing some cracking in areas. It is also marked with 1/2L on the top by the date, the typical capacity for these steins.

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