This unique shaped beer mug "Munich Boy" has a volume of 0.5 liters. The mug is made at the Merkelbach & Wick manufactory. The template of this mug in the catalog of the Merkelbach & Wick manufactory is under the number F22.
In the design of this form, the masters of the Merkelbach & Wick factory made mugs with a volume of 0.5 liters, 0.25 liters, 0.125 liters and 0.0625 liters. If we put all these mugs together, we'll get a Munich version of the Russian matryoshka doll. With one exception. Unlike the Russian matryoshka dolls, the Munich boys won't be able to fit into each other due to the protruding handle.
The F22-shaped mug was conceived by the management of the Merkelbach manufactory & Wick to create a competitive alternative against the Munich Boy mug of its earlier form number 209. Such, at first glance, a strange strategic initiative of the Merkelbach & Wick idea of organizing an intra-corporate race for the attention of a customer of the same target consumer audience had its own logic.
The approach to understanding will begin from a relatively recent past.
The factory was founded in 1872 by Friedrich Wilhelm Merkelbach II (born in 1840 - died in 1896) and the sculptor and fashion designer (Johann) Georg Peter Wick (born in 1837 - died in 1914). They were the greatest innovators in a seemingly simple and accessible field. In 1882-1883, they became the first company to produce ivory-colored ceramic products (Elfenbeinsteinzeug). These products were highly popular in North America, and by 1890, more than half of the company's output was exported to that part of the world.
However, in Germany itself, a queue of artisans began to form behind the semi-finished products, which were shaped in the furnaces of the Merkelbach & Wick manufactory.
One of these partners of Merkelbach & Wick became a well-known in Bavaria of the period 1865-1881 distributor with a rich experience of craftsman Jacob Reinemann (Jakob Reinemann).
Reinemann one of the first participants in the market of souvenirs in Munich recognized the high marketing potential
forms number 209 (classic "Munich boy") of the factory Merkelbach & Wick. In other words, Jacob Reinemann was able to organize a large-scale volume of sales of souvenirs
in the form of figurative mugs "Munich boy". At the same time, in the deal with the manufactory, he was able to legally secure the exclusive right to use products of the form number 209.
Under these circumstances, Merkelbach & Wick's management had no choice but to create a new shape, but they couldn't advertise it as their product. Otherwise, the general partner for shape number 209 might consider it a violation of their partnership agreement. As a result, the manufacturer had to settle for an unmarked stamp on the bottom of the mug, using the standard phrase "Gesetzlich Geschützt." This translates to "Protected by Law." In this case, it refers to the copyright of the mug design.
Years later, the so-called non-formal Merkelbach & Wick catalog was created, which reflected the forms that emerged as alternatives to those that had been sold for many years.
In this catalog, the mug featuring the Munich boy is numbered F22.
You can watch a video about this mug at the following link:
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View the collection of Paulo Vik Falcon
| type | Munich Child stein | material | porcelain |
| producer |
Merkelbach & Wick producer info | mold | - |
| designer/decorator | |||
| capacity | 1/2 | ||
| design date | 1900-1903 | ||
| height | 18.0 cm (appx. 7 inches.) |
Show items by producer Merkelbach & Wick
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