The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-02
COLLECTING DRINKING MUGS.
High Prices Paid for Quaint Designs The
Beer Mus Fad q Pet One.


Tho collecting of beer mugs is a pet fad this
season. Mugs of the kind with metal lids are
grouped variously on mantcl or moulding shelf.
as tho case may be. Six medium sized mugs
about a larger ono is the usual arrangement.
II have sold as many as fifty of these Matt
ZACH mugs to one person. said the manager of a
chinaware store. There seems to DO q feeling
just at present that no one can have too many
drinking mugs. provided they differ in design,
or at least have a different legend on them.
Those that have on them parodies Of some typi-
cal German poem or sentiment arc prime favor
ties. Others that sell well stand for tho differ
ent German universities, showing their colors.
their catch words, the towns they are situated
In, and 80 on. That tall mug is $13. We have
them graduated in size and value down to rs
cents"
Conspicuous among the jolly looking drinking
mugs is one showing frolicsome old King Gam.
brinus enthroned on a beer key, with all the
beer mugs in his kingdom doing homage TO him.
Their lids are %upllfted. much as cheering men
raise their hats, and a regular carnival Is in
progress. To the left of the tricky old King is a
burlesque Of the German arms. engraved with
three black turnips. a goat. q monkey. and a sill
very looking herring on q blue ground. Her
rings are supposed to DO good for those who
have quaffed too deep. Turnips are good for
them also. The monkey is q reminder of the
antics the Drhln may play uIIer u uTlHklnR DOut,
and the goat Is yet another symbol OF a gambol-
ing imagination.
crous. shows q sleek-laced monk holding a scroll
with the coat of arms OF Munich cmblazoned on
it. Out and beyond are the towers and house
roofs of tho town. Underneath, In German
characters. ia inscribed q legend. the sum and
substance OF which ID:
He who has not sat in the Hof brau with q full
for Bavaria over and above all the rest OF tho world.
"These beer mugs are made in Mattlach. near
terry in the world" said the manager. "Fho
firm is SO well established that u is able to pay
Ing 70 81 400 in American money have often been
paid fore single idea. Now here Is q design that
a mug of medium size with a most eloquent.
looking cat. a cat as black as Ink. on the gold
dOnic phiz OF a cat smirks from that as well az
from the side of The mug.
students song g said the manager. "Tho half
spectre half cat, il taken from an old German H5 r
in that character is as familiar ~ certain parts
Of Germany, as some OF the Mother Goose
One Of the ,~clevGrest designs has Wisdom"
and "f9lly,, and In their !, 10, ,oil9werS, rang on
and all in typical costume. from the FOOLS cap
and bells to the Kings ermine robe and crown
1 tae InIr century, w ,sg stnde ,S r IN tRs Fsthe ss nine'
Another design, so well scratched in the clay
that It looks as II raised from the surface. has 2
W " ia o1i'ff NJ hA ~ WV ~ I'Nh
tioning the King to give good measure. The
| speaker OF the company has a rule in his hand
and is gauging the mug he carries and demon
The expression of the 6guresis good and the col:
oring in all Of this pottery is soft and subdued
In tone, quiet browns and blues most OF 1t. with
only a little dull russell. or pale olive, introduced
| occasionally in the garments or as a back
ground. The faces and limbs Of the figures arc.
OF course. flesh color. Female peasants, In
holiday dress. with cap. bodice: Killed
| jugs and junketing baskets, are one design.
Another shows two heavy-limbed laborers
Juggling at the arms OF a stone wine press, while
a festiye.looking parsonage in a students cap
holds his foaming drinking mug under tho
spigot. There are pagan celebrations in honor
OF Bacchus depicted on some. the forms and
faces being Greek in character. and on other
mugs there are scenes primitive and patriarchal.
as though taken from the Bible; Again, there
viii be troops OF frolicsome people Of both sexes
frisking about in y mad gallop. holding their
drinking mugs high above their heads and
swaying this way and that In great glee.,
81 wish ] could got more OF them. said a mid.
dle-aRed man, who had examined the genuine
Mattlachs with great interest. but I really
| haven't q place In my house TO put them. III
take one OF those with tho cat philosopher on 1t
for q friend. and II | can succeed in giving away
! Vaccination about the things With their fan