Naval stein

[Hallibag]

Found this naval stein today, but I can’t decide if it dates to WW1, or earlier. Mentions service in the north, West Indies and Mediterranean and has an image of U-1 and a Zeppelin, among other things. Not in the greatest condition, with the owner’s name unfortunately worn away, but I still like it:

[drmessimer]

Halibag; The Stein represents the pre-war period, 1888-1913. The warship depicted in your post is probably one of four school ships on which the officer candidates at the officers’ school at Mürwik in Flensburg made their second-year cruise. Those four ships were SMS Herta, SMS Freya, SMS Hansa and SMS Vineta. All four had a modified ram bow and two masts that still carried yards. The uniforms depicted on the Stein are the type worn by officer candidates while they were at Mürwik.
I would like to see more pictures of the Stein, preferably 3600 around. Another dating clue is you reference to the U-1 that was also used as a training boat, SMS U-1 was commissioned in December 1912 and following her shake-down cruise, se was assigned to the U-Boat school where she remained until 19 February 1919 before going to the Deutsche Museum in München. Below are photos of SMS Herta and SMS Vineta Dwight

[Hallibag]

Thank you, drmessimer. Here are a few more photos of the lid:

[MAP]

A wonderful stein. I only have a few and really just started collecting them but I think they are great. This is the first Navy example I've seen.

It looks quite large compared to the typical Army versions. I assume given the makers mark on the bottom it doesn't have a Lithophane?

[Hallibag]

No, no lithopane (unfortunately).

[drmessimer]

Hallibag; The extra photos change things a bit. The Stein was made very early in WWI. Torpedo-boat S118 was lost on 17 October 1914 in the Helgoland Bight. The 1914 cruise was at sea when the war started and returned to Germany by the so-called "North About" route that went up Britain's west coast and around Scotland. I wrote a book about one of the class members who made that shortened cruise, Eleven Months to Freedom. Dwight

[MAP]

Great information Dwight.

If my understanding is correct, the production of these kind of stopped during the war. If so, it would make this one quite interesting.

[Hallibag]

More photos:

[drmessimer]

These last two photos ice the cake; it was an early recall because the war had started. There were no further school cruises during the war. I would think that the circumstances would substantially increase the value of the Stein. Dwight

[MAP]

I would agree Dwight. Certainly makes this one special.

Again, a wonderful stein. Too bad the name is unreadable.