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 in the center with a red shoulder board with a flaming bomb over 61, for the 61st (2nd Grand Ducal Hessian) Field Artillery Regiment. The last names of the men of the company are to the left and right, although a bit faded. The other side of the stein has depictions of these men in Battle firing field artillery cannons and riding on horseback. We can certainly tell that the names of these men were hand-painted, not printed. This example is named to Gefreiter Keil.

The bottom of the stein is marked with the following unit information:

2. Battr. 2. Grolsh. Hess. Feld. Art. Regt. Nr. 61. Darmstadt. 1903 05

This indicates that Keil was in the 2nd Battery of the 61st (2nd Grand Ducal Hessian) Field Artillery Regiment, and that he was stationed in Darmstadt, Germany from 1903 to 1905. 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 depicts a field cannon which is missing a wheel and the cannon itself. This piece is in disrepair as we don’t believe the cannon could be repaired. The hinge has a lovely Hessian lion. 

There is no maker mark on the bottom of the stein, however that is not uncommon. The bottom is marked with a painted 12. The lid is in rough shape, and the joint with the hinge has a small bit of play. The stein measures approximately 10¼ inches in height, and is 4 1/2 inches across the base. The glaze is in very good condition, with no cracking we can see, but there is some wear and scuffing. The bottom of the inside has an embossed "lithopane" design that shows a soldier and his lady, which can be seen by holding the bottom up to the light.

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