| ~ Deutscher Michel ~ | |
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These two steins portray a fictional character known as
"Deutscher Michel" (German Michael). Michel
personifies Germans as fun loving gentle people that love gaming,
playing cards, music, singing, smoking and beer drinking, of course.
The mid 19th Century Michel also just wants to be left alone in peace,
but watch out if he is provoked. He is usually portrayed wearing a
night cap, but this is a cleverly disguised Phrygian Cap
symbolizing liberty and freedom.
The stein on the left is an interesting character/figural stein ca. 1900, marked #633. This stein has usually been referred to as "Man with Pipe" because that's exactly what it looks like. However the Dümler & Breiden catalog lists this as "Deutscher Michel" (German Michael) which and can be seen labeled on the front base of the stein. The stein on the right is late 19th century, transfer and painted, pottery stein marked #579. labeled "der Deutsche Michel" (the German Michael). Note how Michel is labeled in two different ways on these steins. There's a rule in German that when the masculine definite article (der) is written before an adjective modifying a noun that the adjective becomes feminine. In this case "Deutscher" becomes "Deutsche". Also see translations: Gesellschaft - Deutscher Michl (Society of the German Michael), Michel wach auf! (Michael wake up!) and the Featured Stein for Feb. 2021. | |
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Translation: Roy De Selms Photo Credit: Unknown |