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From: Geof Uhle
Remote Name: 69.221.158.9
It seems that more than just a few of the stoneware steins fron the early 1900's have some sort of partial cracking or cracking around the handle as they attach to the stein. The cracks are usually very tight and seem not to go into the pottery to any meaningful depth. Many times the crack is only partially around the handle. They almost look like an expansion crack from cooling after firing! Here are some questions on the subject. 1) Is this common? 2) Does it reduce the value of a stein? 3) Should, or could it been repaired, or re-glaze the crack? 4) Will the problem get worse over time? 5) Why do so many seasoned/knowledgable stein sellers that have been doig this for a long time, consider it not a defect, and are they correct?