The stein originated around the 14th century. The spread of the bubonic plague throughout Europe forced Germany to take some precautions in preventing a catastrophe. A new German law was written, stating that all beverage containers needed a lid. During the next 300 or so years, Germany enforced many regulations on how their beer was to be produced and transported, while other European countries didn’t take such precautions. Thus German beer quickly became popular across Europe and demand for the beer increased as well. This demand made it a necessary search for inexpensive, yet durable material to transport large amounts of beer to different areas. Although many materials proved to be a sufficient material to use in creating beer steins, the most common materials used were glass, stoneware, and porcelain. In the latter half of the 19th century, stein makers found different advantages within the different materials. The advantage in using stoneware to make steins was that molds could be used to mass produce elaborately carved steins. In using glass, not only could one produce multiple glass mugs, but an artistic touch could add to the glass by including acid etchings, glass staining, or even multicolored overlays. Porcelain’s advantage was that a stein fabricator could use molds to make “character steins”, steins that had a particular shape modeled after an item or a person. Throughout the 1900s, collecting antique and replicated beer steins became very popular hobby not only among individual people, but in museums as well. Production of beer steins has become substantially large in America, but the largest producer of beer steins is Ceramarte of Brazil. The most traditional area of beer stein production is the Westerwald region in Germany called “Kannenbaeckerland”. This unique German potters region has been creating beer steins for centuries and is famous among the collectors as the original German beer stein producer. Beer steins were made primarily with pewter. In many areas across Europe (primarily in England), but many steins were known to be made of glass. Steins has also been known to have been forged out of wood, earthenware, and crystal. Ordinary German beer mugs have been made out of glass for hygienic reasons since the introduction of glass mugs to the 1892 Oktoberfest. Modern beer mugs, except again decorative or luxury versions, don’t have a lid. Beer mugs (0.5 and 1 litre) are typical for beer gardens. And especially the Oktoberfest. Where they are popular for their robustness. In other settings, 0.33 and 0.5 litre beer glasses are also popular. Other forms and synonyms. In German-speaking regions beer mugs may be known as. Maßkrug or Maß (for a one-litre beer mug). Adlerhumpen , a tall drinking glass sometimes with covers enamelled with the double eagle of the Holy Roman Empire. Seidel or Seidla (Franconia, ½ litre). The term “Seidel” is also used by the Deitsch. Schoppen (Palatinate, ½ litre). Keferloher , the traditional (but non-embellished) stoneware beer mug, named after the village of Keferloh. Where they were originally produced. Considered collectible are traditional designs such as brewery emblems, Bavarian motifs such as Neuschwanstein. Or the Marienplatz Rathaus-Glockenspiel. Of Munich, and the colorful official annual Oktoberfest souvenir mug. Featuring the year’s winning poster design. The use of beer mugs is uncommon in most parts of Northern and Central Germany, and in these regions considered a Bavarian specialty. Unusually large German beer stein (31.99 litre capacity, 15.88kilos empty). Although they have long gone out of fashion, the lids on beer mugs serve as a sanitary measure especially to keep insects out of the beer. They are usually made out of pewter. And are usually equipped with a lever that is in reach of the thumb, so that it is possible to grab the mug and open and close the lid with a single hand (if one can hold the weight, that is). These days beer mats. Are usually used to cover the glass or mug when required. The item “EARLY GERMAN LIDDED GLASS BEER STEIN CUT GLASS PORCELAIN HAND PAINTED HARVEST” is in sale since Wednesday, March 23, 2016. This item is in the category “Collectibles\Breweriana, Beer\Drinkware, Steins\Lidded Steins\Germany”. The seller is “lhowardestates” and is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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