~ Mettlach Steins ~ Collecting Beer Steins - An Introduction to the Hobby

Mettlach is a small town in Germany's Saarland. It is the home of the Villeroy & Boch (V&B) factory, where stein production began circa 1840. V & B used coal-burning kilns which produced a more uniform product than the wood-fired process. 

The Golden Era of V & B stein production began around 1880 and lasted until about 1910. The world expositions during that time catapulted the new V & B production technique of chromolith or "inlaid Stoneware" to the heights of world awareness. When the factory was partially burned in 1921, many of the production techniques were lost and little is known except through theories about how chromolith (today commonly referred to as etched) was produced. 

Mettlach also produced hand-painted, mosaic, tapestry, print-under-glaze (PUG) and relief items, sometimes incorporating more than one technique. 

V & B used an extensive marking system which included the old tower (castle) trademark, the year of production, form number, size number, etc. 

Following the overwhelming acceptance of the V & B chromolith steins, other German factories attempted to recreate similar etched steins, some using almost identical scenes to those used by V & B. However, to the trained eye, the difference is clear. 

Since 1976, V & B has produced some contemporary steins. They are well marked and not intended to confuse the collector of antique steins. Today's production techniques are different than the methods used during the Golden Era.