TOPIC:

I know very little about these German beer steins. Given that the text around the base reads "Der Gott der Eisen wachsen ließ, wollte keine Knechte", the first line of the German "Vaterlandslied" (the Song of the Fatherland), they must have been made for the home market. Similar steins were presented to German Reservists on completion of service, so it seems likely that the ABW-themed examples were made for that purpose.

In his article "Regimental Steins - A Brief History", David E. Cunningham writes: Steins were ordered from military shops in the area around the garrison town or through the representatives of stein manufacturers. Normally ordered in the spring, they were delivered in early September, just prior to mustering out. The average cost approximated to a month’s salary for a German private of that period. Steins could also be purchased on an individual basis, often following discharge from active duty.


The example below was sold in two forms, either fully or partially glazed. One of the scenes on its side utilises figures from the well-known photograph of Major Albrecht in the field.
















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With regard to the name on the collar of the dog on the dog jars, the name "Creaky" was one of several terms used for the Boer Long Tom which began to bombard Mafeking on 24 October 1899.

In BP's diary, he uses a variety of spellings of this name including Greechy, Gretche and Grejte. BP said this was the name given by the Dutchmen (24th October).

It appears that the dog was not killed by the Long Tom. The dog was most likely killed on 16th October during a bombardment of Mafeking.

Some reports suggest the dog was killed on the 17th, 21st or 24th. Reuters reported a telegram from Mafeking, dated 21 October saying 'All well. Four hours' bombardment. Dog killed'.

Although not immediately apparent, the imagery on this 1901-dated German beer stein is generally believed to be a comment on the Boer successes at the beginning of the war. Indeed, the David and Goliath analogy was a theme that regularly appeared on pro-Boer postcards emanating from Continental Europe at this time.

Goliath is depicted as an English king of the medieval period, with shield emblazoned with the royal coat of arms. Although the legend, "Merk die Lehr!" ("Heed the Lesson!"), does not explicitly refer to the ABW, anybody viewing this stein in 1901 would have understood the meaning of the imagery immediately.

The pewter lid carries a ceramic insert, decorated with a clenched fist and the words "Mein Gutes Recht" ("My Right").

Painted by ceramics artist Otto Hupp (1859-1849), for Villeroy & Boch, Mettlach, Saarland, Germany. The stein was produced in two sizes: 1 litre and 1/2 litre.

Base with impressed maker's marks: "METTLACH / VB / GES. GESCH. / 2718 / II / 01". Rim impressed: "1/2 L".









German postcard, depicting "ENGLAND" as Goliath, holding a bag of "STERLING", and the "TRANSVAAL" as David, defending the Rand "GOLD-MINEN". With the caption: "Englands Kampf gegen transvaal oder David und der Riese Goliath".









Thomas, Dr T., Stein Collectors International, September 1986 (paper presented at the SCI Convention, San Diego, July 1986)

Politics on Mettlach Beer Steins? At least Once!

If we look in the Bible, Book of Samuel: 17, we read the story of the big battle between the little shepherd boy, David, who would later be king of Israel, and the Philistine warrior and giant, Goliath. As he was not used to carrying any weapons, David just took five stones and a slingshot; Goliath was fully armed. The first stone flung by David hit the giant on the forehead – and the mighty giant collapsed and died. We want to tell you this to explain the scene that is depicted on a Mettlach stein and which is more than just a biblical episode.

We wish to discuss half- and one-litre stein no. 2718, which was listed in the Villeroy & Boch catalogue of November 1901. It is made of stoneware with etched decoration; the handle has been glazed and has four holes to put one’s fingers through. The lid has a round ceramic plaque insert in a pewter rim: a clenched fist is shown with the inscription, “Mein gutes Recht” (“My Right”). On the body we see both main figures of the scene against a blue background; David is half the height of Goliath, who wears armour and weapons. Over the scene we read, “Merk die Lehr” (“Heed the Lesson”). It is important to emphasize that Goliath’s shield is decorated with the British lion and with the British motto: “Honni soit qui mal y pense” (“Evil to him who evil thinks”). At the giant’s right is his helmet, also decorated with the British lion. ........

The stein must have been designed in 1900, so that production could start in 1901. It was therefore designed during the first year of the Boer War. Goliath is symbolic of the powerful English; little David, who decided to fight without weapons, represents the Boers. At the time the stein was designed, the artist must have thought that, like in the Bible, in spite of everything, the weak would win.

Considering the letter type, we are able to assign Mettlach stein no. 2718 to the artist Otto Hupp (1859-1949). This item, which is an aesthetic and ceramic success, has also a great political significance. Therefore it is an important item and maybe even an unusual exception to the program of V&B’s stein production at Mettlach.


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How the Victorians liked to tile their fireplaces. Made by Pilkington Tiles.






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Cashing in on the wave of patriotism that swept through the nation during the first months of the war, Minton produced a series of tiles similar to the Pilkington examples above.

The second photograph shows three of these set into the top of a small table (a fourth, of General Macdonald, is set into a lower tier).









And for those who couldn't afford Minton or Pilkington, generic white tiles were decorated with transfer prints of the various generals.





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Although only one component of this music box is made from bisque ware, this seems the best place to post photographs of it. Made, I believe, in 1902 (another version was made for the 1902 coronation of Edward VII), these ornate boxes seem to have found their way to South Africa shortly after the end of the war. A number have passed through Stephan Welz over the years, including a variant made for the Free State market, incorporating figures of President Steyn and General De Wet. The Anglo-Boer War Museum, Bloemfontein, has a Transvaal example in their collection (illustrated in Oosthuizen 1987, p. 215).

The German ceramic centrepiece of this version consists of seated figures of Generals De La Rey and Botha. At their feet a silk ribbon carries the words: "J.H. Delarey / Louis Botha / Die Helden des Burenkrieges". A small mechanism is wound by a key at the bottom left and plays a rather frenetic version of the Transvaalsch Volkslied.

The Edward VII Coronation version, unsurprisingly, plays the British National Anthem.







Ex Woody Nel Collection


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