A nice Bellarmine or Bartmann (Bearded) jug stein which may be circa 1910. Original Bartmann / Bellarmine jug steins were manufactured in Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries.
An original catalog picture of Reinhold Merklebach, Model 008 (c. 1910 - 1920). Reinhold Merklebach produced 45 Bellarmine Jug reproductions of steins that were in museum collections all over Germany. The original of this jug stein came from Kunstgewerbemuseum in cologne.
( http://www.mysteincollection.com )
The lid of the stein has nice patina on the outside and is nice and shiny on the inside, which could suggest that it could be from 1910 - 1920.
Even though the jug stein has the desirable blueish clay, the possible sanding marks are a concern. I am unable to identify the mark.
