Is he, or is he not?

Merkelbach & Wick - modelnr. 2082

Uit de verzameling van Paulo Vik Falcon

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Is he, or is he not?

The mug was made by one of Germany's star manufactories, Merkelbach & Wick, during the golden era of 1890-1905.
The mug is painted in the style of student unions at German universities since the mid-19th century.
In those days, students would commission artists to paint ceramic beer mugs based on real-life events. These could include duels, defending a fellow student from outside attacks, or local authorities trying to lure students into lucrative jobs.
During this period, students enjoyed exotic smoking habits, indulging in excessive drinking during social gatherings, and engaging in gambling activities.
In fact, the mugs that contained all this information, albeit in coded form, were personalized. There was and will never be a second copy in the world.
Nevertheless, the energy of collectors is capable of the unimaginable.
As a result, at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, there were attempts to commission artists to paint mugs in a student-style. The key image of the 19th-century student era was the knightly service to the order to which one had sworn allegiance.
Given that Germany was not a unified state until 1871, the logic of students at that time to form a core for their future path seems reasonable.
It's easier than that. The knight must have a helmet with a place on the back of the head for attaching bunches of gift flowers. Then, the knight must have a cape.
It's clear that the knight won't be able to provide the back of his metal helmet with a bouquet of flowers every week that can surpass the expressive colors of what should be on the helmet.
The participants of the ceaseless armed European feuds passed away. In their place appeared connoisseurs of dyed ostrich feathers, demanding that the knight's mantle
match their color scheme.
This mug is decorated according to all the basic requirements of the German student life stylists of the last 5 years of the 19th century.
A thorough approach: a blank from Merkelbach & Wick with a corresponding lid attached.
There are two possible scenarios. First, a real student may choose not to include information about their university journey and contacts on the mug. Second, someone may have purchased a blank mug from Merkelbach & Mick and decided to have it painted in a student-themed style, using only white (silver) and green, the two colors of the Saxony coat of arms.

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