Are beer steins from Germany worth anything?
German beer steins can sell for under $50 or over $5,000, but many sell in the $100 to $500 range. To determine whether your stein is a valuable antique or just a cool collectible, you need to look for clues about how old the stein is, where it was made, and how it was made.
How old is my beer stein?
| German beer stein | |
|---|---|
| Type | Period |
| Early (antique) | From the 16th to the mid-19th century |
| Old | From the mid-19th to the 20th century |
| Jugendstil | Art Nouveau period from 1900 to the 1920s |
Why does a stein have a lid?
The lid. 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.
How much are beer steins worth?
Are Old Beer Steins Worth Money? German beer steins can fetch up to $5,000 in antique condition. Over $6000 was spent on an 1800 German regimental stein in 2018. $150 was the price of a pewter lid stein by Marzi & Remy made in the 1850s.
How do I identify old German beer steins?
It’s German. If it’s made in Germany, odds are your stein is special. Investigate the bottom of the glass. Look for “Made in Germany” or “Gemacht in Deutschland.” Obviously if it has a “Made in” mark but the country isn’t Germany, you don’t have an authentic German beer stein.
Where did beer steins originate?
Germany
Steins originated in the 14th century. As a result of the bubonic plague and several invasions of flies in Europe, Germany established laws to require beverage containers to be covered for sanitary purposes.
What is a Stein really called?
The traditional Beer mug with a lid, what we call a Beer Stein, is a Deckelkrug or Seidel. It could also be referred to simply as a Bierkrug. The pewter lids were introduced in the 16th century when laws were passed requiring that all food and drink containers have lids to help prevent the spread of the plague.