Brauhaus Schwabach A.G. - Maßkrug
Type: 1L unlidded salt-glazed brewery stein
Dating: c. 1905–1915
Material: Stoneware, salt-glazed
Markings:
• Front text: Brauhaus Schwabach A.G. in cobalt blue, likely stencil-applied. The original cobalt has faded in places to a near-black appearance, but retains hints of deep blue in recessed areas.
• Capacity mark: 1L. incised at top front center, followed by a horizontal calibration line with short hash marks at both ends.
• Interior: Clear concentric potter’s throw rings throughout.
• Exterior: Subtle potter’s throw lines faintly visible near the rim, smoothed beneath the salt glaze.
• Base: Unmarked, with the typical rough, unglazed finish of hand-thrown pieces.
• Handle: Hand-applied with visible join marks at top and bottom; upper section has a hole, suggesting it may have once been fitted with a pewter lid.
• Lid: None present.
• Condition: Very good, with excellent surface patina and age character. Small chip present at rim.l
• Dimensions: Standard 1L height and volume; consistent with early 20th-century tall-form brewery mugs.
Historical Context and Notes:
Brauhaus Schwabach A.G. was active in the Bavarian town of Schwabach (south of Nuremberg) in the early 20th century. The “A.G.” (Aktiengesellschaft) designation indicates it operated as a joint-stock company — a common structure for regional breweries expanding during the industrialization of beer production in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
While exact dates for the founding or closure of this brewery remain difficult to trace, the typography, material, and manufacturing characteristics suggest a production date in the 1905–1915 range. This mug was almost certainly used at the brewery itself or distributed regionally as a branded service mug for customers. The salt-glazed surface, capacity calibration, and potter’s throw lines are all typical of southern German brewery production from this “golden era” of stein manufacturing (roughly 1895–1914).
Design Notes:
This mug’s slightly faded cobalt lettering, softened by age and use, adds a layer of authentic charm. Despite the loss of some blue color intensity, the Brauhaus Schwabach A.G. text remains bold & legible.
Summary:
A beautifully aged, early 20th-century 1L salt-glazed brewery mug from Brauhaus Schwabach A.G., featuring classic southern German craftsmanship and typographic branding. With its original cobalt stencil lettering, potter’s throw lines, and evidence of a once-present pewter lid, this stein is a fine example of a working brewery vessel from Bavaria’s historic beer culture.
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View the collection of Jorge O. Soriano
| type | stein | material | stoneware |
| producer | mold | - | |
| designer/decorator | |||
| capacity | 1L. | ||
| design date | c. 1905 - 1915 |
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