A Brief History of Steins:
The word stein is actually a shortened form of Steinzeugkrug, which is the
German word for stoneware jug. The origins of beer steins date back to the 14th century. As a result of the
bubonic plague and several invasions of flies throughout Europe shortly thereafter,
Germany established several laws in the early 16th century requiring that all food
and beverage containers be covered to protect their contents. By combining a lid,
hinge, and thumblift, these 'German' containers could easily be opened and closed
with one hand.
About this time many efforts were also made to improve the earthenware
material used for beer steins. By raising the firing temperature, clay was vitrified
into a solid, moisture-free, stone-like material called stoneware. Because this
new material was much more durable than the previous earthenware, beer steins made of
stoneware became very popular and many different types of designs and decorations
were artistically applied to them.
The guild system was firmly entrenched in European society at this time.
The pewter guild, combined with the heightened awareness for hygiene among food
containers, created an environment in Germany that would ensure the presence of
permanently attached pewter lids on stoneware drinking vessels for the next 300
years. By the end of the 19th century, the beer stein was clearly defined as being made
in Europe, primarily of stoneware and primarily with a permanently attached
pewter lid.
Collecting beer steins is extremely popular. Some collectors
specialize in particular types such as faience (a thick, brightly painted
pottery originating from the 1500s in Faienza, Italy); regimental designs
or figural designs, and others collect steins from just one manufacturer.
There were a huge number of German potteries that made the majority of
steins found today, but there were a few famous factories whose steins
have become highly collectable such as Meissen, Mettlach and Capo-di-Monte
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