Student Heraldic Beer Stein of a Technical Fraternity, probably Anhaltische Bauschule Zerbst, dated 1906
Ceramic, painted, pewter. Beer stein (0.5 L) of the Mathematischer Verein (Mathematical Society) at the Anhaltische Bauschule zu Zerbst (Anhalt Building School at Zerbst) with a moulded pewter lid. The body displays a hand-painted polychrome quartered coat of arms in the colours purple-white-gold: Field I with crossed compasses and a set square on a gold ground, identifying a technical student association; Field II with two crossed basket-hilted sabres (Korbschläger) on a silver ground, indicating the obligation to duel; Field III with diagonal bars in the fraternity colours (Couleur) purple-white-gold; Field IV with the foundation date "10. Januar 1906" on a gold ground, referring to the establishment of the Mathematical Society. The inescutcheon bears the fraternity cipher (Zirkel) with a prominent "M" for Mathematischer Verein and an exclamation mark denoting satisfaction-giving status. Crowned by a jousting helmet with mantling and a crest of three ostrich plumes, with a surrounding scroll bearing the motto "TREU, FEST UND WAHR" (Loyal, Steadfast and True). Above the arms the handwritten name "WALTER KLINDER al. Schmiß", below "RUDOLF BERNICKE al. Knoten". On the base the press mark of the stoneware manufacturer Merkelbach & Wick, Grenzhausen, and the handwritten painter's note "gem. Ant Hille Hofl. Zerbst". Good condition consistent with age, one small glaze chip at the upper rim near the fill-line mark (1/2 L). 15.7 x 9.5 cm (H x D).
360-degree photo available on our website. The crossed compasses and set square in Field I of the coat of arms identify the stein as belonging to a technical student association. The identical full coat of arms is also documented on contemporary printed matter of the Mathematical Society, confirming the attribution. The foundation date "10 January 1906" in the coat of arms refers to the establishment of the Mathematical Society, not the Building School itself, which was founded in 1887 as a private institution by architect Robert Schmidt and taken over by the City of Zerbst in 1900. Following the closure of the Building School at the end of the Second World War, the society ceased to exist; archival records were largely destroyed in the bombing of Zerbst on 16 April 1945, which destroyed approximately 80 percent of the city archive. Anton Hille (active c. 1894–1941) was a well-known porcelain painter and court supplier in Zerbst who obtained blanks from firms such as Merkelbach & Wick and painted them individually. The dedicatees Walter Klinder and Rudolf Bernicke are listed with their beer names "Schmiß" (a fraternity nickname derived from the duelling scar) and "Knoten" (Knot). Such personalised beer steins were customary keepsakes commemorating one's active student days.
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