The Münchner-Kindl and Schützenliesel
By Steve Breuning
Two of the most iconic characters in the history of Munich, as well as in the decoration and illustration of beer steins, are the Münchner-Kindl and Schützenliesel. Both, of these characters are easily found on steins but rarely are seen together. That is what caught my attention about this stein.
This is a 0.5 L porcelain stein made around 1900. It is 8 1/2 inches tall at the top of the thumb lift with a slightly recessed base. It has a 3 inch mouth opening. The bottom is unmarked but it was probably manufactured by Ernst Dorfner & Co. who manufactured in Bavaria between 1889 and 1913.
The Münchner-Kindl and the Schützenliesel
can be seen arm-in-arm on the front of the stein. The stein has
an ornamental pewter lid and a Lyre as its thumblift. The stein also
has a lithophane of a Bavarian couple sitting at a table. This
scene is reminiscent of one by Franz von Defregger. However, this
exact scene I could not find in any of the reference books I have on
Defregger. Adolf Eberle (1843-1914) also painted similar scenes
but again I found no exact match.
One final thing that
fascinates me about the
Schützenliesel is its real life accuracy. She was originally
painted by the portrait painter, Friederich A. von Kaulbach,
(1850-1920). Colleta Moritz (1859-1920), yes a real young lady,
posed as his model. He certainly captured her perfectly.