Gerz Beer Stein
Vintage 1960s German Folk Art Barware
Pewter
Recent Sales
Vintage 1960s German Folk Art Barware
Pewter
Vintage 1960s German Folk Art Barware
Pewter
A Close Look at Folk-art Furniture
Folk art is a genre of art that shares the creator’s traditions, offering not just an artistic display but an opportunity to learn about a culture. Antique, new and vintage folk art typically reflects a heritage or location. It can include utilitarian objects and handmade art as diverse as weather vanes, duck decoys, portraiture and paintings, carnival art and quilts.
Quilts are a quintessential part of American folk art but their roots are international, with quilting dating back to Ancient Egypt. The practice spread to Europe and was especially prominent in the Middle Ages, with one of the oldest surviving examples being the Tristan quilt made in Sicily in the 14th century. They were made as bedcovers and clothing, including as a layer for knights to wear beneath their armor. Native American folk art includes functional objects reflecting their heritage, such as baskets, textiles and wooden pieces.
Elsewhere, the vast range of work associated with Mexican folk art includes masks made by Mexican craftspeople for traditional celebrations and ceremonial dances. Mexican masks are part of the country’s folk-art traditions that go back thousands of years and play a role in festivals and theater.
Works in the folk art tradition are valuable because of the skills involved, like weaving, hand-carving wood and even stonework. Many folk artists are self-taught, while some train as apprentices within their community. By using available materials and taking a personal approach to their creations, artists ensure each piece is unique and conveys a story.
During the Great Depression, artistic materials in America were hard to come by, so artisans used discarded wood from cigar boxes and shipping crates to make highly stylized, notched pieces — most often picture frames and boxes — that are today sought after by collectors. This folk art style is called tramp art and was popular from roughly 1870 until the 1940s.
Folk art brings vibrant culture and traditions into your home. Browse an extensive collection of antique, new and vintage folk art on 1stDibs.
Finding the Right Barware for You
Whether it’s streamlined or sophisticated, a bar area is always a welcoming feature in any home interior. A cheery well-made drink with friends and family has the potential to yield some unforgettable moments alongside those that aren’t easily remembered. And the only way to conjure that exemplary cordial is by putting the proper antique or vintage barware to work.
Essential barware equipment ranges from sterling-silver barspoons for mixing your cocktails in tall collins glasses to jiggers, shakers and strainers that allow you to whip up martinis and old-fashioneds.
From a design standpoint, some barware, such as our array of Art Deco glass whiskey sets or mid-century modern silver-banded tumblers crafted by Dorothy Thorpe, can help position your bar as a bold and attractive centerpiece to a room. At the very least, a carefully curated collection of barware can elevate with subtlety the bar’s nearby fixtures, as a handcrafted crystal decanter might do for your vintage 1960s bar cart.
As cocktail hour draws near, find inspiration in our gorgeous gallery of home bars in locales ranging from London to New York to San Francisco, and browse the exquisite selection of antique, new and vintage barware and glassware on 1stDibs.
- What are German beer steins for?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022German beer steins are used for drinking beer! They have a handle and a lid and are either hand-painted or decorated with intricate designs. On 1stDibs, find a collection of authentic German beer steins from some of the world’s top sellers.
- What is a German beer stein?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertNovember 2, 2021A German beer stein is a traditional mug designed specifically for drinking beer. Initially, beer steins had been made of stoneware but today they can be found made of a range of materials including glass or pewter. Contemporary beer steins may have hinged lids or no lid at all, and the older versions are sold as collectibles. Shop a collection of antique and vintage German beer steins from some of the world’s top dealers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Some beer stein molds have been in use for a long time, so the design is often not enough to tell if you have a vintage piece. On the bottom of the stein, you may find a maker’s mark and even an exact date of manufacture. Another good indicator is to examine the pewter lid and hinge. Pewter acquires an uneven patina over time but fakes that use a darkening agent will have an evenly distributed patina. If the inside of your stein’s lid is much lighter than the outside, that's a good sign you have an antique. On 1stDibs, you’ll find a collection of antique beer steins from some of the world’s top sellers.