Stein Collectors International |
~ A Glossary Of German Stein Terminology ~ by Walt Vogdes |
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Occasionally a stein collector will come across the description of a beer stein written entirely in German. It's nice to know how to decipher it, but critical to understand it if it appears in an auction catalog! While an illustration goes a long way to recognizing what we are looking at, gaining an understanding of the description, especially if there is any damage, is essential. This is a U-Build-It Glossary of German stein collecting terms. We've seeded it with a few terms, but would like our visitors to make further contributions, or to comment on the definitions we have provided. It is presented in alphabetical order, like a dictionary, to ease the task of looking up unfamiliar words. Please send your contributions or comments to us by email at sci@steincollectors.org. We thank Joe Gehres for his help in reviewing this material and offering suggestions before it was published. |
Absplitterung | chip |
aufwendig | complicated design or decoration, difficult to make, intricate, lavish, costly |
Ausführung | produced by, originally by |
Ausgabe | (abbreviated Ausg.) Edition |
Band | pewter strap |
Bayern (bayerisch) | Bavaria (Bavarian) |
Becher | beaker |
Bekronung | finial |
bemalt | painted |
Bemalung | painted decoration |
beschädigt | damaged |
Bier | beer (Bierkrug is a beer stein) |
Bildnis | portrait |
Boden | bottom |
Bodenbild | lithophane (picture in the bottom) |
Bowle | also Wein Bowle, referring to a wine bowl (punch bowl) |
Brauerei | brewery |
Daumenheber | thumblift |
Daumenrast | thumblift (literally, thumb rest) |
Deckel | lid |
Deckelheber | thumblift (this is unusual usage) |
D.R.G.M. | Deutsches Reichs Gebrauchmuster - German (State) Patent or protected prototype. |
Einlage | inlay |
Email (Emaille) | enamel (painted and fired oxides) |
Emailfarbe | colored enamel |
Entwurf (Entwerfer) | design (designer) |
Fehlerstelle | defect, damage (chip, paint flake, etc.) |
Figurenkrug | character stein |
gebraucht | used, not new |
gebrochen | broken |
Gebrüder | (abbreviated Gebr.) brothers |
geloetet | soldered |
geritzt | etched (incised, scratched) |
Gesellschaft | (abbreviated Ges.) Company |
Gesetzlich geschützt | (abbreviated Ges. gesch.) protected by law, patented, copyrighted |
Geschützt | protected (by law) |
Glas | glass |
G.m.b.H. | (Gesellschaft mit beschränker Haftung) company with limited liability (e.g., "Corp." in US, "Ltd." in England) |
Haarriß | Hairline |
handgemalt | hand painted (usually suggests that the stein was made post-World War II) |
Henkel | handle |
Hirsch | stag (springender Hirsch is a leaping stag) |
Humpen | a large, cylindrical drinking vessel, typically of glass |
Jahrhundert | century |
Jugendstil | German art nouveau (after the German magazine, Jugend) |
Kanne | pitcher or master stein |
Keramik | ceramic |
Korpus | body |
Krug | stein, pitcher, jug, mug, tankard - any size |
Kupfer | copper |
leuchtend | shining, bright, luminous, vivid |
Maß | one liter serving of beer |
Maßkrug | a one-liter Krug |
München | Munich |
Musterschutz | registered patent, copyright, registered pattern |
ohne | without (as ohne deckel) |
Pokal | pokal (see the standard glossary) |
Porzellan | porcelain |
Rand | rim |
Randabsplitterung | rim chip(s) |
Reservistenkrug | reservist or regimental stein |
restauriert | restored or repaired |
Römer | römer or roemer (see the standard glossary) |
salzglasiert (Salzglasur) | saltglazed (saltglaze) |
Schankkrug | serving or master stein, also called a flagon |
Scharnier | hinge |
Seidel | a half-liter Krug |
Spannungsriß | stress crack, usually tight |
Sprung | crack |
Standfuß | base ring |
Steinzeug | stoneware |
Turm | tower |
Wandteller | decorative, hanging plate |
Wandung | walls or sides (of the body) |
Wappen | crest, coat of arms |
zeigt | it shows |
Zinn | pewter |
Zinndeckel | pewter lid |
Zunftkrug | guild or occupational stein |
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