Original Imperial German WWI Metz-Belle Croix Weihnachten Christmas 1914 Beer Stein - 1914 Dated

Original Item: Only One Available. Perhaps no other collectible is so shrouded in myth, misinformation and mistaken identity as German regimental steins. These pieces have been steadily reproduced since the 1960s and most experts agree reproductions far outnumber authentic examples. Yet few buyers other than stein specialists know how to identify the fakes. We have examined this stein thoroughly, with reference to several websites such as RealorRepro and SteveonSteins, and this one has all of the correct aspects for being original.

The majority of authentic German regimental beer steins were produced between about 1890 and 1914. During this time, military service was compulsory in Germany. Most men would take basic training between 17 and 20 and then enter the reserves until age 40. A group of men would enter a unit together, stay in the same unit for training and be discharged as a unit. This sense of togetherness fostered the custom of buying souvenirs with the unit name, insignias and decorations as a keepsake of military service. Many souvenir items were available such as pipes, clocks, flasks and especially steins. Rosters of names from your unit, or regiment, could be added to the steins and these became known to collectors as "regimental steins."

During WWI and the build up to WWII, Steins once again gained popularity, though they were generally much more utilitarian than the ornate steins made prior to WWI. They were shorter, with much less ornate glaze, and did not have the level of fit and finish seen earlier. However they were just as cherished by the owners who purchased them to commemorate their service.

This is a totally genuine early WWI stein from December 1914, the first Christmas of the Great War and the stage of the now-mythical “Christmas Truce”. The stein depicts a cross on a mount surrounded by the text

Metz-Belle Croix
Weihnachten - 1914

This could be in reference to the Forts of Metz, two fortified belts around the city of Metz in Lorraine. Built according to the design and theory of Raymond Adolphe Séré de Rivières at the end of the Second Empire—and later Hans von Biehler while Metz was under German control—they earned the city the reputation of premier stronghold of the German reich. These fortifications were particularly thorough given the city's strategic position between France and Germany. The detached forts and fortified groups of the Metz area were spared in World War I, but showed their full defensive potential in the Battle of Metz at the end of World War II.

Additionally, Bellecroix is a neighborhood in Metz, where the stein was likely made for German soldiers in the area. The lid has no inscription but there is a German eagle on the hinge.

The stein measures approximately 6 1/2 inches in height, and is 3 3/4" across the base. The glaze is in good overall condition. There is no size marking but it’s likely half a liter, the standard size for these.

A very impressive display item from the German Empire, ready to research and display!