Commemorative Early 20th-Century German Reservist Stein in Porcelain and Pewter

Details

Description

This item is a German Reservist Stein (Reservistenkrug) honoring a soldier's historical military service during the years of 1896–1899. The … Read more This item is a German Reservist Stein (Reservistenkrug) honoring a soldier's historical military service during the years of 1896–1899. The stein commemorates completion of compulsory military service. This piece specifically honors service in the 1st Heavy Cavalry Regiment "Prince Charles of Bavaria", 3rd Squadron.

In German military tradition, these steins were kept as prized keepsakes on household shelves to showcase a man's service history to guests. If used, it was brought out occasionally for special reunions or formal family gatherings rather than daily consumption.

SCENES: The artwork showcases cavalry scenes, military slogans like the timeless "Sieg oder Tod" (Victory or Death), and a sentimental farewell scene showing a reservist meeting his sweetheart, his "Liebchen," near a guardhouse. The lists on the sides contain the names of the commanding officers, non-commissioned officers and fellow squad members who served alongside the owner.

MATERIALS: The lidded top and detailed thumb-lift mechanism are made of pewter. The lid features an elaborate statuette of a heavy cavalryman on a horse, and the thumbpiece is shaped into a rampant Bavarian Lion holding a shield.

PRODUCTION: This stein was made specifically for export. While this piece bears an official turn-of-the-century military design focused on an individual who served during the late 19th century, German factories realized that military steins like this were incredibly popular with foreign tourists and collectors. To meet the demand, they produced "export editions" of regimental steins. These used the exact same high-quality molds, hand-painted details, lithophanes, and pewter lids as the ones issued to actual soldiers, but they were shipped straight to shops in London or New York. On the underside, the “Made in Germany” notation presented surprisingly in English on a German product reflects the McKinley Tariff Act of 1890. The law explicitly stated that as of March 1, 1891, all articles of foreign manufacture must be "plainly marked, stamped, branded, or labeled in legible English words, so as to indicate the country of their origin" to be allowed entry into the country.

HIDDEN FEATURE: When you look through the open top (photo #16) toward a bright light source, the translucent porcelain base reveals a hidden, three-dimensional image molded directly into the porcelain. This is a lithophane base, which traditionally depicts a tavern scene, a classic German tavern maid, or a soldier bidding farewell to his partner.

Signature/Maker’s Mark: Nonexistent. Base dimensions: 4.5 inches in diameter. See less