Title

Beer Stein, Regimental

Creation Date

1900

Description

Regimental beer stein made in Germany. Was given as a commemorative gift to a Mr. Kaiser, an Infantryman in the 11th Company of the 8th Württemberg Infantry-Regiment No. 126 "Großherzog [Grand Duke] Friedrich von Baden" stationed in Strassburg (Now Strasbourg). Kaiser served in the regiment between 1898-1900. The body is decorated with painted scenes of the regiment on duty and in action. The center features Kaiser's regimental shoulder board with oak leaves on either side, the flags of the German Empire and Baden-Württemberg, topped with a crown, below is a pickelhaube and bugle with the name of the company and regiment on a scroll. Inscriptions on the bottoms correspond with the painted scenes. The inscription with the scene of soldiers on duty reads, "Hoch die tapfre Infantrie / Auf dem Posten spät u[nd] früh !" [To the brave infantry / On duty late and early!] The inscription with the scene of soldier in action reads, "In des Gefechtes Mitte stehn wir wie / Mauern, für Deutschlands Ruhm u[nd] Ehre / für Vaterland und Fürst." [In the middle of battle we stand like a / wall, for Germany's glory and honor / for Fatherland and Prince.] On either side of the handle is a roster of the men enlisted in the regiment including Kaiser. The hinged pewter lid is decorated with a relief of Emperor Wilhelm II flanked by cannons, flags, rammer/sponge, and swords on the embossing. An inscription above reads, "Gehorsam treue Tapferkeit des Soldaten Ehrenkleid" [A soldier's robes of honor is obedience and faithful courage]. The finial is in the form of a soldier raising his canteen as if to toast. The thumblift is the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Württemberg. When lifted up to the light, the bottom of the stein reveals a lithophane of three men at a table by a cocklestove in a tavern.