Antique Early German Stoneware Beer Stein Rhineland Raeren Kugelbauch 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. This simple but very elegant beer stein is very old. It dates back to mid-1600s and was made in the town of Raeren – one of the most important centers of early stoneware production in Germany. This stein is made in the shape of ball – a so-called “Kugelbauchkrug” – a very traditional Rhineland shape. To quote the book “Early Stoneware Steins” by Les Paul: The pottery craft in Raeren area has a long tradition going back to the 12th century. Salt glaze was used at the beginning of 16th century. In 1550/60, Raeren’s golden age began. Some of the potters who had been driven out of Cologne settled here. Raerene was able to compete with other Rhenish pottery, and at the end of the 16th century, Raeren even assumed first place in Rhenish stoneware production. Raeren products were exported all over the world, as finds in shipwrecks off the coasts of Western Australia, in Southeast Asia, in Estonia in Eastern Europe and North America. But the main markets were in Flanders and Holland, where Raeren stoneware was used in everyday life. Evidence of it is seen in numerous depictions on Flemish and Dutch paintings from 15th to the 17th centuries. Please look at my photos – I found exactly the same stein on a Dutch painting from 1600s. It is made of gray saltglazed stoneware with no decorations and this specific attractive brown glaze that was made on a gray stoneware with a slip of clay rich in iron – a very characteristic Raeren feature (the same technique was used in Frechen but their glaze is slightly different). The stein is in fantastic for the age condition – there are no larger chips, cracks or restorations. The upper rim is kind of rough but it is glazed so this is a manufacturing condition. There is a small chip on the bottom edge, but it is the only flaw – this condition is quite rare for the early Rhenish stoneware. It is 6.75 tall (17 cm), 0.5 L capacity. Condition: small chip on the bottom, otherwise excellent. Height: 6.75 in. Get images that make Supersized seem small. Track Page Views With.