How To Know The Authenticity Of German Beer Steins

By Author: Rick Paary
Total Articles: 13

The fact, whether your German steins are real, vintage collectibles or just a replica is quite intriguing. The price difference between the genuine and the replica is reasonably high, which makes it imperative for you to understand whether you are paying the right price for the right stein. Let’s discuss how we can be sure of the authenticity of this beautiful collectible piece and purchase the same with confidence.

Manufacturer’s label

The primary and easiest way is to turn the stein and check the base for the manufacturer’s label. In accordance with International law, it is mandatory now to put the manufacturer’s label at the bottom of the steins. The bona fide German beer steins compulsorily will have the label of origin ‘Made in Germany’ or ‘Gemacht in Deutschland’ written in German in the steins. Beer steins are also produced in countries including Taiwan, China, and Brazil and for them to be legally exported; it needs the seal of origin or the region from where they are exported.

The lid design

The other method is to check the cover or the design pattern on the lid. The genuine German steins will have a lid that complements to the design of the main structure or body of the piece. The authentic steins in most cases have ornamented and meticulous designs. If you glance at the stein and feel something missing, it possibly may be a fake. The other clue is the manner of the attachment of the lid and the way it opens the stein. Steins mostly have a thumb lift, which opens when the lid is pressed. If the stein is without the thumb lift, in all possibility it is not made in Germany.

The interior

The portion contained inside the old German beer steins is relatively lighter in color as they are generally displayed closed. The interior can indicate the ethnicity in most cases with exception when the steins are displayed with an open lid, which is a very rare occurrence.

The hand painted design

The other vital aspect of genuineness is the interior of your stein design on the painted lithophane placed at the bottom of the stein. These designs are painted with a long paintbrush, are always there in all the older steins, and never perfect. These are generally family images portraying beautiful heavenly women. If the designs have revealing portrayals of a modern woman, then it’s definitely a fake model. The angel’s design is believed to give the owner of the stein good fortune and luck.

The handle

Lastly, the existence of a bump on the handle denotes that your stein is made relatively recently, as the older steins do not have this bump. If the vendor claims that it’s a very old stein and in great demand, and takes a premium, then he is surely taking you for a ride.

It’s indeed a great honor to have an authentic German stein in your house, but be absolutely sure of the product before agreeing to the price tag.

About Author:
Rick Paary is a happy-go-lucky kind of guy who loves everything related to American football and a big fan of Detroit Lions. He is also fascinated by home décor and various roofing systems that are in use in various parts of North America. He has written on german steins and german beer steins in this article.