Königl. Bayer - STAATS-BRAUEREI Weihenstephan.

From the collection of Jorge O. Soriano

Königl. Bayer - STAATS-BRAUEREI - Weihenstephan.


Description:

This beautifully preserved 1L salt-glazed stein represents the Königlich Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan, the Bavarian Royal State Brewery located in Freising, just north of Munich. The bold front graphic features the full Bavarian coat of arms supported by two lions, and the rare text combination:

“Königl. Bayer. STAATS-BRAUEREI Weihenstephan” – a historically specific reference to its status under royal control before the end of the monarchy in 1918.

The transfer-applied design is clean, vibrant, and centered on the face, applied over a smooth, beige-grey salt-glazed body. A 1L incised capacity mark appears on the side near the handle, with a slight upward hook at the base of the “L.” The calibration line is placed just beneath the rim, also on the side, and ends in short hash marks.

The lid is unmarked but has a fine aged patina, topped with a classic acorn thumblift and a particularly long, narrow tang leading to an open 5-ring hinge. This longer tang visually balances the unusually tall and narrow shape of the mug — a form notably slimmer than the more standard 1L brewery steins of the same period. The placement of the handle is notably lower on the body, contributing to the distinctive silhouette.

The base is unmarked, while the interior features sharply defined potter’s throw lines, adding to its early industrial character.


Estimated Date: circa 1895–1915

We can date this piece confidently to this 20-year range based on multiple converging factors:

• The “Königl. Bayer.” (Royal Bavarian) designation limits production to before the 1918 fall of the monarchy.
• The factory-made, transfer-applied front graphic became more common after ca. 1895.
• The tall and narrow form with fine potting and long tang indicates high production standards still common before WWI.
• From ca. 1915 onward, the war disrupted civilian stein production and simplified forms and decoration became standard.


Notes:
• Excellent condition throughout, except for a hairline crack (external only) on side of body.
• A relatively rare example combining both Royal Bavarian state ownership and Weihenstephan branding in this visual format.
• Weihenstephan claims to be the oldest still-operating brewery in the world, tracing its roots back to 1040 AD — and this mug showcases the legacy of its state-controlled chapter before WWI.

As always, I welcome your feedback.

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