Stein of the Month:
January 2008 |
~ Altassyrisch (Old Assyrian)
~ by
John McGregor, SCI Master Steinologist
This poem has been commemorated on steins manufactured by at least three factories. Two different series were produced by Mettlach, the first in an Assyrian style and later in a comedic Egyptian style. Hauber & Reuther designed a set which they produced in both blue & gray saltglaze and porcelain. Hauber & Reuther choose to use contemporary illustrations with a university student as the primary subject. It appears that Merkelbach and Wick
produced at least one stein on the subject in blue & gray saltglaze. It is model number 488 and the only one listed in their catalog, so I must assume there were no others depicting the rest of the poem. Their's is done in a comedic style that
reflects both Assyrian and Egyptian styles.
The Merkelbach & Wick piece depicts two verses from the poem. Figure 1, shows the waiters presenting the bill to the customer and figure 2, shows the deadbeat thrown out on his ear. The relevant verses are shown.
|