Vintage German character beer stein by Werner Corzelius in West Germany features very high relief of three panels - each depicting "Good Luck" or Viel Glück. One panel features a horseshoe, rose and flowers, the second features a chimney sweep character, the third features a pig (reason below) and the fourth panel features a lucky 4-leaf clover.
Character beer steins came into being and are collectible even today because they are artistic, they depict the humorous side of life, sometimes they have a tale to tell, they express a whimsy, a fantasy — yes, a "Gemutlichkeit" which we find enjoyable and which we attempt to duplicate vicariously by collecting them.
The beer-drinking and beer-loving Germans even personified the condition of inebriation: To be drunk was to have a Kater (“tomcat”), and a hangover is known by the same name. Similarly, to have a monkey (Affe) on one’s back was to be a drunk. Spring beer is known as Bock (“ram” or “goat”) Bier; to have good luck is to have Schwein (“pig“); as in the United States, to be clever is to be a “fox”; of course, a night person is an “owl”; also a scholar might be termed an “owl”. Thus the tomcat, the monkey, the goat, the pig, the fox, and the owl were early character stein favorites. They were given human features, clothes to wear, and pipes to smoke. The owner of such a stein said, in effect, “Look here — I like my beer and I’m proud of it!”
In addition, a collection of German beer steins make great conversation pieces when stacked on a shelf, they spur research into an almost forgotten past, they fulfill our urge to collect, and last, but not least, they make beer taste better and even more fun to drink.
The Encyclopedia of Character Steins
This vintage West German occupational character beer stein by Werner Corzelius is in excellent condition, with no chips, cracks or crazing noted. The colors are deep and rich with no fading noted.
The pewter conical shaped lid is also in very good condition with a decorative thumblift and a closed 5-ring hinge. This stoneware beer stein measures 6.75" tall to the lip of the stein, 8.75" tall to the top of the finial, is 3-7/8" diameter at the base tapering up to just under 2.75" diameter at the lip. Weighs 1 pound 14 ounces. Incised mark on the base with the Werner Corzelius logo, stamped MADE IN WEST GERMANY and marked 0.5L for 1/2 Liter size.
A1760 - Vintage WERNER CORZELIUS German Character Beer Stein MADE IN WEST GERMANY
$65.00
