Antique Mettlach Stoneware Beer Stein – Villeroy & Boch – Bonn 1869 Early Mettlach stoneware beer stein produced by Villeroy & Boch, one of the most renowned European manufacturers of the 19th century. The stein is richly decorated with applied relief figures depicting rural and allegorical scenes on a blue ground, surrounded by finely modelled ornamental bands. The quality of the relief work and the glaze is characteristic of the early Mettlach period. The stein is fitted with its original pewter lid, featuring a painted scenic insert. Inside the lid, there is an original handwritten dedication, reading: H. Lentze – s/b F. Alg – Bonn 1869 This inscription confirms both place and year, making the dating to 1869 reliable and historically documented. Condition The stein itself is in good antique condition, with age-related wear consistent with use. The painted insert in the pewter lid shows cracks and damage, clearly visible in the photographs. No modern restorations detected. Overall condition consistent with a 19th-century object. Details Origin: Germany, Mettlach Manufacturer: Villeroy & Boch Period: 19th century (dated 1869) Material: Stoneware with pewter lid Decoration: Applied relief figures, blue ground Inscription: Original handwritten dedication inside lid Remarks Early dated Mettlach steins from the 1860s are increasingly rare, especially examples with documented provenance and original pewter lids. Despite the damage to the lid insert, this piece remains an authentic and collectible example of early Mettlach production.