Savvy craftsmen in Germany originally began producing beer steins made out of stone to combat the Bubonic Plague. By inventing a contraption with a lid that could be opened and closed with the press of the thumb, the people of the day were able to cut down on the spread of disease, and they were able to ward off insects that sought refuge in their mugs.
Not exactly an appetizing thought, but fortunately, over the years steins evolved out of the “stone age,” with pieces being artfully crafted out of glass, porcelain, silver, wood and other materials. With living conditions improving, European civilizations colonized unknown lands, and steins made their way to all parts of the world. Nowadays, the stein is a status symbol for beer drinkers everywhere.
If there is a beer lover in your circle of family or friends, or perhaps you are a beer enthusiast yourself, it’s worth perusing this unique and functional collectible. After all, a stein is a way to express the collectible owner’s personal style or heritage.
Steins can be crafted to include a family crest, modern art or other paintings, iconic figures in pop culture, and they come in just about every color so they’ve got mass appeal. Steins and Glassware (steinsandglassware.com) is the good place to browse a wide variety of German beer steins.
For those football enthusiasts, check out Pottery Barn’s Vintage NFL Antique-Silver Beer Stein, made of brass with an antique-silver-plated finish and a glass bottom, the standard bottom of yesteryear designed so noble kings could keep an eye on their courts while enjoying their beverages—brilliant! The stein can be personalized with a classic or current NFL team logo, as well as a name (retails for $69).
Not into football? Opt for Pottery Barn’s monogrammed antique-silver beer stein, which also features a glass bottom (retails for $49). These steins are available through Pottery Barn’s catalogue or potterybarn.com only.
Think Outside the Stein
Since the 14th century, the stein has gone from being a product exclusively designed for its utilitarian function to something beer enthusiasts and collectors both relish. What might the beer collectible of the next few hundred years look like? Perhaps the beer koozie will froth into the collectible of the future.
Pottery Barn’s Football Leather Beer Koozie and Dice Set is a great gift for football enthusiasts. Each of the four leather koozies is fully insulated and comes with six dice. Stitching along the side of each koozie is reminiscent of that on a football and will keep canned or bottled beers cool while dice games are played (retails for $49; available through Pottery Barn’s catalogue or potterybarn.com only).
Steins—and perhaps koozies—aren’t the only collectible in this vein. Horchow’s stoneware beer pitchers are works of art in and of themselves. Originating from Alsace, France, the pair of blue-on-gray stoneware pitchers show a strong Germanic influence in their decoration. “The underside of each handle features a leaf motif in the upper curve just before the handle joins the pour spout … and [t[he pour spout is embellished with a scroll design with Bacchus [the Roman god of wine and agriculture] on the front,” luxury home décor purveyor Horchow explains. The pair of beer pitchers retails for $1,810.
By Laura Starczewski
