Original Item: Only One Available. Perhaps no other collectible is so shrouded in myth, misinformation and mistaken identity as German military commemorative beer 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.

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 very high quality original stein, 0.5L in capacity, which was hand painted during the war to commemorate service in the German Imperial Navy. The stein appears to be named to a specific officer in the Navy:

This is painted onto a life preserver, which has a Naval Scene on the interior, showing a sailor holding the Imperial German Navy War Ensign. To the left of the scene is a Vice Admiral Command Flag, and to the right is another larger and more detailed Imperial German War Ensign. There are also some words painted below this, but unfortunately we cannot make them out at all.

Preliminary research shows that there was a Vice Admiral Ludwig Kaulhausen (1875–1957) in the Imperial German Navy, so we assume that this stein refers to him. This would make an excellent research project for someone so inclined.

Condition of the stein is very good, with wear commensurate with the age. There is definitely some wear to the painted on markings, which were added after the stein was glazed. There also is a crack on the handle, though we do not know if it is just on the surface or goes all the way through. The stein is marked with 0.5L capacity, and is approximately 3 3/4"W x 5"H, not counting the handle.

Ready to research and display!