German Lidded Beer Stein Appraisal

German Lidded Beer Stein

This is a traditional German-style lidded beer stein featuring a relief-molded ceramic body and a decorative metal lid. The body of the vessel is characterized by a deep cobalt blue glazed background, which serves as a canvas for high-relief polychrome figures depicted in a rustic tavern or 'Biertisch' scene. The figures are dressed in traditional folk attire, including green hats and red vests, showing a high degree of molded detail. The upper and lower bands of the stein exhibit a natural stoneware color with molded architectural or foliate patterns. The lid appears to be made of pewter or a similar zinc-based alloy, featuring an ornate domed shape with a pointed finial and an embossed floral or scrollwork design. A decorative thumb lift is attached to the hinge mechanism, used for opening the lid with one hand. The condition shows moderate aging, particularly visible in the heavy oxidation and patina on the metal lid, which has dulled to a dark grey. There are no immediate signs of large cracks or chips on the ceramic body from this angle, though fine crazing in the glaze may be present. This style is consistent with mid-to-late 20th-century souvenir production often found in the Westerwald region or through manufacturers like Gerz or Thewalt. The combination of salt-glazed stoneware aesthetics with modern color application suggests it was produced for the collector or tourist market rather than as a museum-grade antique from the 19th century.