Stein

Zöblitz, Saxony – Stříbro (Mies), Bohemia, late 18th century

Lathe-turned and cut serpentinite, pewter cast and soldered mounts, handle, and lid

Markings: Pewterer’s mark stamped inside lid – a lily and MIES inside an oval

H: 16.5 cm

UMP 16579

Serpentinite objects of applied and decorative art made in Zöblitz, Saxony, are a prime example of products using locally sourced materials. Ideal for lathe-turning and cutting, the serpentinite mined near Zöblitz (Zöblitzer Serpentin) has been shaped into objects over the past several centuries; the first written mention of serpentinite drinking vessels appears in the sixteenth century.

Objects from Zöblitz were valued and popular due to their unique, semiprecious gemstone-like appearance. Dishware such as steins, jugs, and bowls were exported for finishing to countries throughout Central and Western Europe as well as to Russia. Local artisans, goldsmiths, and pewterers then added decorative mounts to the objects, which then served as attractive tableware in the homes of burghers and nobility alike. The stein presented here – with pewter mounts marked by the pewterers of Stříbro, a town twenty-five kilometres east of Pilsen – is a standard example of this practice.