Early 19th century stein for everyday use

From the collection of Paul Van Eck

Pewter mark FVDB: Franciscus van den Bogaert ('s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands circa 1800.

This is a nice example of a type of stein that was produced in large volumes for the 'low countries' (Belgium and the Netherlands). It is believed that production of the stoneware was in the westerwald region of Germany.

This example has a pewter 'peg', and the front shows the words "NED KAN" and "LITRE". Curiously, the letters 'N' are inscribed 'backwards', so possibly the potter was dyslectic..

The pewter lid bears the pewter mark of the pewterer Franciscus van den Bogaert, working in the city of 's-Hertogenbosch, and dean of the pewterers' guild in 1787. He sometimes marked with a rose mark, in which the initials FVDB appear below the crown (Dubbe, page 356-357).

Knowing the pewterer, combined with the fact that the use of "NED KAN" and "LITRE" was in use around the same time in history, we can date this stein as circa 1830. The calibration mark is provided with the letter L. This would be a calibration mark in the southern Netherlands for the year 1830, which seems to fit the pewterer..

View the collection of Paul Van Eck

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