Painting "The Pious Mercenary", 1880 by artist Eberhard Stammel.
Stein from Dorfner & Co. "Comfortable environment".
An antique German beer porcelain mug with a capacity of 0.5 liters was made at the Dorfner & Co factory. in the period 1885-1890. The bottom of the mug is made using the lithophany technique, which provides for the creation of images on thin unglazed porcelain that become visible only when illuminated. Germany has historically been the largest and most significant lithophane producer in the world. Despite the fact that the patent for the technology was issued in Paris in 1827, it was German manufactories that perfected it and launched mass production. The golden age of lithophany's popularity in Germany occurred in the period from 1840 to 1870.
The Dorfner & Co. manufactory was founded in 1826 by Karl Dorfner, Joseph Dorfner, Heinrich Waffler and Johann Mayer. They were engaged in the production of porcelain, earthenware and kaolin products. The factory had its own raw materials, a staff of potters and decorators. In 1890, due to constant family disagreements, the partnership Dorfner & Co. dissolved. For more information, see the link: [link]
The mug has three different types of decorations dedicated to three different genre themes.
Lithophania's drawing depicts a man performing a piece of music for his beloved on a zither. That is, this is a typical love-themed storyline.
The drawing on the side of the mug is a colorful figure of a bearded warrior, most likely a landsknecht or a Renaissance mercenary.
This is indicated by the characteristic details. In his right hand he holds a halberd, a combined shaft weapon popular in the XV–XVI centuries. He wears a helmet of the Morion type or an early variation of it, and a wide red sash is tied around his waist. In his left hand, the warrior victoriously raises an ornate jug, emphasizing the theme of the feast. The inscription "Prosit!" is visible from above. "May it be beneficial!") - a traditional German toast meaning "To health!"
The tin lid depicts an old hunter in a tavern. He has a hat with a feather on his head and a rifle on his back. He smokes a pipe and drinks beer. His image is complemented by the inscription "Gemütlichkeit", which translates from German as "comfortable environment".
The phrase in German is printed on the side of the pewter lid: "Sing und trinke allezeit so wird dir nie das Leben leid". Translated, it means: Sing and drink so that you don't feel sorry for your life."
At first glance, these are three unrelated storylines. Although, on the other hand, they can be seen as three different periods of a man's life: the time of falling in love, the time of service and victories, as well as the period of retirement with the opportunity to pursue their hobbies - hunting and fishing.
The main drawing for the mug was taken from an 1880 painting by German artist Eberhard Stammel.
Eberhard Stammel (1833-1906) was a famous German painter, a representative of the Dusseldorf School of Painting. He specialized in genre scenes, historical paintings and portraits.
View the collection of Paulo Vik Falcon
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