A truly grand and magnificent 5.7L Antique Mettlach etched and incised German Beer stein, mold #2102, dated 1907 by VIlleroy and Boch, and initialed by artist W. Schultz depicting German student symbols with coats of arms. This beer stein features as its central image a woman with crown (Germania), surrounded by a cherub and Greek or Roman dressed men and on the side panels men toasting, dressed as Landsknechte (German feudal knights) with slashed balloon sleeves. The lower portion of the stein features multiple coats of arms or crests of various German cities. The text on the stein translates to “Let us now rejoice, because we are young!” The text comes from the first two lines of a song in Latin entitled “de Brevitate Vita” (The Brevity of Life) that has been popular among German students since the 13th Century.

The stein measures 24” tall and has a fancy pewter lid and thumb lift. There are several very small firing cracks near the shields or crests on the lower portion of the stein that are from original manufacture and not later damage. This is part of the production of the piece. There are no chips, other cracks or hairlines and no pewter damage. The stein is gorgeous and is seldom seen anywhere for sale, even within the stein auction houses. This stein is listed in the 2005 edition of The Mettlach Book by Gary Kirsner with a value of $5,000-$6,000.

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