11 Vintage Beer Steins That Sold for Thousands

Written by Rachel Schneider on
A decorative beer stein with a blue and beige design, featuring cherubs and ornate patterns, is placed on a white surface. The stein has a pewter lid and is accompanied by sprigs of greenery and wheat.
Harp Gallery

Think that old beer stein on your shelf is just a quirky relic? Think again. Some of these collectible steins aren’t just conversation starters but serious cash cows. From sterling silver showpieces to intricately etched Mettlach masterpieces, the vintage beer stein world is filled with surprises. Here are some of the highest-selling ones we could find.

1. 19th Century English Sterling Silver Beer Stein

An ornate silver tankard with detailed engravings of classical figures and intricate patterns. It features a curved handle and a small figurine on the lid, placed on a polished wooden surface.
Image courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and Allstate Antiques Inc
Image courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and Allstate Antiques Inc

Sold for: $3,600

This sterling silver stein reeks with 19th-century opulence, from its intricate markings to the carved, horn-blowing, cherub-like little guy riding a goose on the lid. How much more majestic can it get?

2. Etched Mettlach Beer Stein

A tall, ornate beer stein with a detailed medieval design and colorful illustrations. It features a pewter lid with an eagle figurine on top. The body is decorated with intricate patterns and medieval-themed artwork.
Image courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and Lionsmark Auction Company
Image courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and Lionsmark Auction Company

Sold for: $2,700

This stein has details for everyone. You like intricate scrollwork and lovely ladies on your stein? You got it. You want an eagle perched on top? Sure thing. A mythological-looking, slightly angry man face at the base of the handle? No problem! 

3. Large English Copper Figural Beer Stein

A tall, ornate brass pitcher with a sculpted lid resembling a bearded face. It features intricate designs and patterns, and an elaborate handle with decorative elements. The polished surface highlights its craftsmanship.
Image courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and Fontaine’s Auction Gallery
Image courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and Fontaine's Auction Gallery

Sold for: $2,400

Hailing from the 19th century, this giant stein could undoubtedly hold quite a bit of ale, and its copper composure probably kept it nice and cool, too. But the highlight is definitely the gnome-like head on top.

4. Antique German Regimental Stein

A decorative ceramic beer stein with a figurine lid and an ornate handle. The body features colorful images of historical scenes and German text. The handle resembles an ivory horn with an eagle on top.
Image courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and Golden Sun Auctions, Inc.
Image courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and Golden Sun Auctions, Inc.

Sold for: $2,400

This stein is a sailor’s story in ceramic and pewter. With a figural lid featuring a seafarer clutching what looks like a life ring, plus low-relief military scenes wrapping the body, it’s packed with history. Bonus points for the sailor climbing a tree just to steal a kiss!

5. Mettlach Heinrich Schlitt Beer Stein

A tall, decorative beer stein with a pewter lid. The stein features intricate medieval-style artwork, depicting people in period clothing engaging in festivities. A price tag hangs from the handle. The background is a neutral gradient.
Image courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and Fairfield Auction
Image courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and Fairfield Auction

Sold for: $1,900

The artwork on this early 20th-century stein appears to depict a Medieval scene where everyone is drinking and having a good time. It’s a historic rager, if you will, and we can’t help but love it.

6. Mettlach Walking Beer Stein

A tall, intricately designed stein with a metal lid features an illustration of three animated, anthropomorphic moon creatures dancing under stars. The background shows a night sky and a stone archway. There is German text written across the stein.
Image courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and Fox Auctions

Sold for: $1,800

This stein is giving off inception vibes in the quirkiest way. The artwork shows a stein (a stein on the stein, fancy that!) opening the lid of a smaller stein (a stein on a stein opening another stein — just wow). There is also a dancing die and candle for good measure.

7. ABC King of Beers Brewery Stein

An ornate, vintage beer stein with a decorative metal lid and intricate floral designs. It features the text "King of All Bottled Beers" and an image of an ABC beer bottle at the center, framed by blue and white patterns.
Image courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and Fox Auctions
Image courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and Fox Auctions

Sold for: $1,700

It says clear as day, right on this stein: It’s King. Crowned with tons of ethereal, intricate details, this colorful stein is one of the more valuable vintage options.

8. Monumental Kaiser Stein From Ehring’s Tavern

A decorative beer stein with intricate carvings, featuring a medieval knight and ornate designs. It has a detailed lid with a figure on top. The color scheme is primarily blue and beige.
Image courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and Vero Beach Auction
Image courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and Vero Beach Auction

Sold for: $1,600

Monumental is the appropriate adjective for this massive stein, which stands 38 inches tall. A gift from German Emperor Kaiser Wilhelm, it found a long-term home at Ehring’s Tavern in NYC, where it held court from 1949 until the bar closed in 1992. It was such a fixture, they even put it on the back of the menu!

9. Museum Quality Bronze Beer Stein

Ornate golden vessel on an intricately carved pedestal featuring detailed patterns and textures. The top portion resembles a teapot with spiraled designs and a decorative handle, set on a patterned cylindrical base and square bottom platform.
Image courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and Rbfinearts
Image courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and Rbfinearts

Sold for: $1,550

So what you’re saying is, we probably shouldn’t use this as a drinking vessel and should instead perch it on the pedestal it comes with, cherishing it as a museum-worthy piece. 

10. German Beer Stein, Flemish Country Wedding

Tall, ornate beer stein with intricate raised paintings depicting people in a lively outdoor setting. The lid features a small figure on top. The stein has colored bands with artistic details around the base and lid.
Image courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and Clark Auctions of Texas
Image courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and Clark Auctions of Texas

Sold for: $3,800

At 46 inches tall and weighing 35 pounds, this colossal stein is more of a centerpiece than anything. With intricate raised relief details and a full-color lid, it holds over 8 gallons — enough to keep the whole party going!

11. Two German Porcelain Character Beer Steins

Two ceramic figurines of children with crossed arms. The boy wears a red jacket, brown pants, and a dark hat with a green scarf. The girl wears a green and white top, gray apron, and blue bonnet. Both have a stern expression.
Image courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and Nest Egg Auctions
Image courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and Nest Egg Auctions

Sold for: $3,750

Aren’t these two cute? This stein set includes porcelain German boy and girl figures. To flip their lids, you basically remove the upper half of their bodies, which is the kind of morbid fun that just feels right when drinking.

Author
Rachel Schneider

Rachel is a Michigan-based writer with a bachelor’s degree in Professional Writing and English. Throughout her career, she has dabbled in a variety of subject matter from finance and higher education to lifestyle pieces and food writing. She also enjoys writing stories based on social media trends. Find her on Instagram @rachel.schneider922