Group of Two Antique Small Early Stoneware Beer Steins Rheinland Raeren c. Description: I will be posting this week several very early German beer steins. They date back to 1500s – 1600s and were made in the “Rhineland” – the region in Germany by the river Rhine where traditionally the early stoneware production took place. The most important towns to produce the stoneware were Cologne, Siegburg, Frechen and Raeren. These simple but very elegant pair of beer steins is very old. It dates back to late-1500s and was made in the town of Raeren – one of the most important centers of early stoneware production in Germany. The production of Rheinland stoneware (and proto-stoneware) was exported all over Northern Europe – Flanders, Netehrland, Estonia in the East and England in the West. They are made of gray stoneware with no decorations. They were dipped in liquid slip of iron-rich clay before firing to get this beautiful brown color, and salt-glazed. One has a chip to the upper rim – other than that no problems or issues apart from minor manufacturing glitches. The second one shows minor chips and is missing its handle. There is no repairs or restorations. It looks like the break on the handle was glaze – the handle broke-off during the drying process before the firing. It did not prevent the stein from production. These are beautiful pieces with several centuries behind it! I guarantee my description and my dating. The tallest one is 4″ tall, the other one is 3.75″ tall, approx. 25 L capacity each. Auctiva offers Free Image Hosting and Editing. Track Page Views With.