Stein Collectors International
Featured Stein:
March 2013
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This stein can be classed as early Mettlach since it has the early "Eagles with Medallions" applied mark. The mark shown
on this stein has the "M" for Mettlach below the "VB" for Villeroy & Boch, but no dates visible.
![]() Another interesting feature of this stein is the hexagram on the lid. Most would jump to the conclusion that this is the "Star of David" or "Seal of Solomon" and it would be if it were on a Kiddush Cup or an Israeli flag. However ![]() I believe that the brewer's star had its origin in the 1516 Rheinheits' Gebot (German brewing purity law) when it was decreed that beer should be made only from hops, barley and water. These three ingredients would make up the first triangle of the hexagram. There is another verse that appears in conjunction with beer steins that reads "Hopfen und Malz, Gott erhalts." (hops and malt, God controls). This would seem to indicate that God controls the growing and quality of the hops and barley and maybe even the brewing of beer. It was not known until Pasteur came along in the early 19th century and discovered yeast as the catalyst for brewing. So I suggest that the second interlocking triangle represents the Holy Trinity (and/or the unknown yeast) completing the hexagram. This has been my version of the story of the Brauerstern. Joe Hersch presents another version in Character Steins - A Collector's Guide by E. V. Manusov and M. Wald. Both versions are speculations and cannot be proven. One is probably as good as another. | |||
Compliments of Erste Gruppe |