Description
IMPERIAL GERMANY – STEIN – ENLISTED MAN – S.M.S. KAISER WILHELM II – GLASS VETERANS STEIN
This is a very fine crystal veteran stein for a sailor who served aboard the S.M.S. Kaiser Wilhelm II. The S.M.S. Kaiser Wilhelm II was the second of five battleships of the Kaiser Friedrich III Class (Kaiser Friedrich III’s reign lasted about ninety days. He was also the father of Kaiser Wilhelm II.).
She was commissioned for service in 1900. She would serve as fleet flagship until 1906, when she was replaced by the S.M.S. Deutschland. At various points in time Admiral (Later Großadmiral) Hans von Koester commanded the fleet from it. As an ageing and less capable battleship she began the war in a coastal defense function. By 1915 she was pulled from active service and stationed in Wilhelmshaven where she was used by the commanding Admiral and his staff for activities in the North Sea. In 1922 she was scraped in Hamburg.
This stein is really first rate. The stein has a multi edged system of eight panels. The thumb device attached to the lid is an Eagle with wide spread wings and a Hohenzollern crown.
The painting on the stein is multi colored, very vibrant, and elaborate. To begin at the top we see “The Honored Time Of My Service.” Below that we see a marvelous gold Hohenzollern crown. Touching the stolle coming down from the crown there is a German national flag and a Kriegsflagge. These are attached to an anchor with crossed shovels (I am somewhat puzzled by the shovels which may or may not mean this was for a sailor who was assigned to a “Work Division.). Below this we see a banner which proudly proclaims “Serving on Board the S.M.S. Kaiser Wilhelm II. There is another banner below that which is blank and thus most likely the stein was never sold to a sailor which may in part describe the mint condition of the stein.
Simple words and photos will not adequately describe the beauty and majesty of this stein. From the crystal (Which displays tiny bubbles which is indicative of crystal.) To the vibrant colors of the hand applied paint of the Hohenzollern crown, twin flags, and the magnificent blue crown. Navy veteran steins are difficult to find in earthenware and especially in crystal all the more so especially for the flagship of the fleet for the Kaiserliche Marine. Don’t miss out on this VERY rare stein.
