Walt

If you can post some photos I am sure you will receive opinions about value. However, since it is marked West Germany we know it is post- WWII, and will have have modest value.

Becky, your pouring or serving stein was made during the Jugendstil or Art Nouveau period, but like the vast majority of glass steins, the maker is in all likelihood destined to remain a mystery. Very few glass steins were marked as to their manufacturer, and unless their design is especially characteristic of a particular factory or glass cutter, we will never know who made them.

But it is still accessible! Click on Archives, Featured Stein Archives, then scroll down to January 2010.

Hard to tell the age. The stein is made of porcelain, and it is quite normal for porcelain steins not to have any manufacturer’s mark.

I found a little more information which was sent to me by a friend who lives in Munich when I acquired my stein. “Tief Grotte” was a line of bars (like McDonalds!?), one in Augsburg, one in Speyer and obviously in Munich. Think there were five of these bars in the south of Germany.

I have the 1-liter version of this stein, same lid. Yes, Carl Moos initials. One difference, mine has the word “TIEF” (deep) in blue lettering centered above the heads of the two salamanders. I have it in my head that these were produced for a chain of Bierstube in multiple cities, Munich obviously being one. I would translate as (Deep) Grotto, seeming to imply that they were Keller. These are quite remarkable steins to hold in the hand, the lid is VERY massive and heavy, and the theme is very unusual.

Nice porcelain stein, circa 1900. The image in the bottom is called a lithophane, you can read an article about them in the Reading Room of this site. This seems to be of a somewhat higher quality that other porcelain steins, based in part on the decoration down the handle.

It seems highly unlikely to me.

Click above on Chapters, scroll down to Michisteiners, then send email to Ruth Tremblay.

Your stein is porcelain, patriotic military theme, circa 1900. The prism lid is both uncommon and desirable. Manufacturer is not identifiable, which is common for porcelain steins.

If the lid seems dirty (tobacco smoke and cooking grease are both fairly common), you can spray it in the sink with 409 and scrub the nooks and crannies with a toothbrush, that will not remove any oxidation.

Ben, I paid dearly for mine, and if I were currently buying, would also pay dearly for yours. Carl Moos is important, and the lid and the decoration on this stein are very unusual, and the piece is rare. I’m working on photos.

The letter J is actually an I, standing for Inhalt, or capacity.