Merkelbach Ceramics

Antique German Lidded Blue Glazed Earthenware Beer Stein Jug Merkelbach & Wick German Earthenware, Metal c. 1900 Dimensions: H x D: 18.5cm x 13.5cm This fine beer stein was made by Merkelbach & Wick, a German stoneware factory based in Grenzhausen. Founded around 1872–1873 by Friedrich Wilhelm Merkelbach II and Georg Peter Wick, the firm became known for its fine earthenware and, from the early 1880s onward, its ivory stoneware, which blended traditional craftsmanship with emerging artistic styles. Their creations gained particular popularity in North America, with roughly half of their production exported there by the late 19th century. Merkelbach & Wick’s beer steins were especially notable: many 19th and early 20th century pub steins, including those produced for major breweries, were crafted in salt-glazed or ivory stoneware and often bore the distinctive ‘M W Gr.’ impressed seal - such as the one on this example - making them highly prized by collectors today. Crafted from earthenware, this stein features moulded high-relief decoration encircling the entire body. Various geometric borders frame a central band filled with naturalistic and mythological motifs. Oval cartouches contain classical busts, while the spaces between them depict centaurs, symbolising the duality of human nature and the tension between intellect and instinct. The deep blue glaze accentuates the raised decoration while allowing parts of the ivory-coloured earthenware to remain visible for contrast. The prominent earthenware handle is decorated in the same style as the body, and the vessel is topped with a hinged metal lid. Its generously sized thumb lever allows the drinker to comfortably raise the lid, and the top is inset with a beautifully modelled earthenware panel. On the base remains the original Merkelbach & Wick label, highlighting the firm's international reach with branches in Philadelphia, Vienna, and Munich. The earthenware is also impressed with their ‘M W Gr.’ mark, used between c. 1879 and 1921. With its detailed design and superb craftsmanship from a renowned manufacturer, this antique stein...