Antique German Patriotic Pewter Beer Stein/Server Kaiser Wilhelm I c. 1880s
Antique German Patriotic Pewter Beer Stein/Server Kaiser Wilhelm I c. Presented is a fantastic monumental German beer stein/server made in relief technique dedicated to the unification of Germany. It is made of thick heavy pewter with the body, handle and the lid made in sculptural picturesque way to hail German spirit. The front panel shows a carriage in Roman style with the Kaiser (Emperor) Wilhelm I driving it. In the back of the carriage sit German statesmen – Otto von Bismarck and Helmuth von Moltke, the architects of the creation of German Empire in 1871. Next to Kaiser is his son – Crown Prince Friedrich, the future Emperor Friedrich III. Next to the carriage we can see Emperor Charlemagne on a horse – the founder of the Holy Roman Empire. In front of him is a figure of an ancient German warrior, maybe Odoacer or Teodoric, or just a not specific ancient German warrior. On top of the whole scene is Nike – the winged goddess of victory. A group of three Cupids is flying near Nike. The rest of the body shows Coats-of-Arms of all German lands, cities and regions to show the significance of the Germany united in the Empire. The lid is toppled with the German imperial crown and the Prussian Eagle. It is engraved with a presentation inscription indicating that the stein was a gift to Herr Registator Kuekelhahn for his 25th jubilee working for the urban construction department. It was most likely created to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the unification of Germany in 1881, and the presentation inscription was made much later. I have included in my photos pictures of Wilhelm I, Friederich III and also Bismarck and Moltke. You can see that the relief portraits on the stein are made with excellent details and likeness. The stein is in an excellent condition with some minimal age-related wear but no structural damages, losses, or repairs. The stein is quite large and impressive, standing 11.5 tall to the top of the thumblift, 2L capacity I have inclu. Height: 11.5 in. Auctiva offers Free Image Hosting and Editing. Track Page Views With.