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Antique German flow blue porcelain beer stein with lithophane base and ornate pewter lid, dating to the late 19th century / circa 1880s–1890s.
This is a beautiful antique German porcelain beer stein featuring hand-painted cobalt-blue decoration in the Zwiebelmuster / Blue Onion / Indisch Blau / Strohblumenmuster style. This family of blue-and-white porcelain decoration is historically associated with Meissen’s famous “Blue Onion” pattern, though many German porcelain factories produced their own versions and variations during the 19th century.
The blue decoration on this stein is very similar to documented antique flow blue Zwiebelmuster / Strohblume porcelain beer steins from the late 1800s (1886- ). The style is sometimes referred to as Blue Onion, Indisch Blau, Indian Blue, Strohblumenmuster, or Strawflower pattern. Similar pieces are sometimes described as Rauenstein-style because porcelain factories in and around Rauenstein, Thuringia were known for producing blue-and-white wares in this general pattern family.
The stein also features a molded lithophane image in the bottom, visible when held up to light. The lithophane scene appears to show multiple figures in a village or domestic setting. Lithophane-base steins are a desirable feature of antique German porcelain beer steins and are often found on better late 19th-century examples.
The hinged pewter lid is especially interesting. The hinge shank is marked F&M on one side and NBG on the other. These marks are associated with Felsenstein & Mainzer of Nürnberg / Nuremberg, Germany, a known German pewterer, wholesaler, and finisher connected with beer stein lid hardware. Reference examples show this same F&M / NBG marking on either side of a pewter lid hinge shank on late 1880s (1886- early 1900s) German steins. These marks identify the pewter lid/finishing hardware, not necessarily the porcelain body manufacturer.
The underside has a small hand-applied blue mark that appears to read 80 / 08 depending on orientation. Its exact meaning is unknown. It may be a decorator’s mark, painter’s mark, production mark, or factory/workshop notation. It is not being represented as a definite date or capacity mark.
No Meissen crossed-swords mark has been found, so this piece is not being represented as Meissen. No confirmed Rauenstein factory mark has been found either, so this is being described as Rauenstein-style / Zwiebelmuster / Strohblumenmuster rather than as a confirmed Rauenstein piece.
Based on the porcelain decoration, lithophane base, pewter lid construction, and F&M / NBG hardware markings, this stein likely dates to the late 19th century, approximately circa 1880s–1890s.
The F&M / NBG pewter hinge marks are associated with Felsenstein & Mainzer of Nürnberg. Stein reference material notes that F&M purchased decorated steins from Dorfner & Co. before 1890. No confirmed Dorfner body mark has been found on this piece, so the porcelain body is being described as possibly Dorfner & Co. / attributed, not confirmed.
Details:
- Antique German porcelain beer stein
- Flow cobalt-blue hand-painted decoration
- Zwiebelmuster / Blue Onion / Indisch Blau / Strohblumenmuster style
- Rauenstein-style blue-and-white porcelain pattern family
- Molded lithophane scene visible in the bottom when held to light
- Ornate hinged pewter lid
- Pewter hinge marked F&M and NBG
- F&M / NBG associated with Felsenstein & Mainzer, Nürnberg / Nuremberg
- Small blue underside mark appears to read 80 / 08
Small blue dots found throughout. Blue line at rim. Could be artist identifiers. See photos
- Likely late 19th century, circa 1880s–1890s
- Pewter retains age-appropriate patina
- Great display piece for antique German stein, porcelain, lithophane, pewter-lid stein, and blue-and-white porcelain collectors
- Pewter lid finial/knop has a slight lean/bend from age or handling. Lid, hinge, and stein present well overall.
- Antique pre-owned condition with age-appropriate pewter patina and minor surface/storage wear. Blue-and-white porcelain body presents well. Lithophane scene visible in base when held to light. Pewter hinge marked F&M / NBG. No Meissen crossed-swords mark found. There are no chips, no cracks, no hairlines, tight hinge, strong lithophane. Please review all photos.
