“The Zouave,” 1888. Oil on canvas from the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam.
HOUSTON, TEX. – Antique beer steins continue to attract serious interest from buyers around the country and in Europe. On July 5, The Stein Auction Company/ Andre Ammelounx offered 581 lots of beer steins, along with related rdf_Descriptions, to collectors and absentee buyers. Ammelounx conducted the sale at this year’s 33rd Annual Stein Collector’s International Convention.
One of the top sellers was a Meissen stein, circa 1715, by Johann Friedrich Bottger, featuring a hand-painted gold crest, which fetched $26,400. This rare pre-porcelain piece attracted international attention. An Eighteenth Century Annaburg stein sold for $6,600, and an Eighteenth Century basket-weave stein surpassed its presale estimate, realizing $7,975. A $5,060 selling price was garnered for a 19-inch Lobmeyer glass-lidded pouring stein with transparent enameled design. A KPM porcelain plaque with an Edward Grutzner monk motif sold for $4,840.
A rare, 6-inch Steinbock Ibex carved horn, made in Salzburg circa 1730, brought $12,650, and a Lignum Vitae wood stein, circa 1670, brought $9,900. Both prices were consistent with presale estimates.
Values of quality antique beer steins vary tremendously, depending on rarity and condition as well as aesthetics. For example, German student society or student fraternity steins were highly sought after, with a selection of both single crest and the very rare double crest steins offered. Prices ranged from $242 to $1,925. Character steins sold in a range from $350 to $4,150 for a very rare Max & Moritz stein.
Ammelounx also offered Mettlach steins, plaques and vases. Mettlach selling prices ranged from as low as $143 up to $5,170. Occupational porcelain steins and shaving mugs reached from $231 to a high of $1,265. Sports rdf_Descriptions, including Rugby subjects, brought between $935 and $2,145. A representation of glass steins brought a high of $3,190, with a low of $176 for a common glass stein.
European bidders paid special attention to brewery and regimental steins. An assortment of brewery steins was offered and fetched prices ranging from $264 to $1,045. Regimental stein prices ranged from $550 to a high of $2,860.
Gross sales were $485,025.
