Cream colored ceramic stein with a curved ceramic handle with a molded leaf design and a conical pewter lid with a pewter thumb lift and pewter mountings with embossed floral designs. The body has one panel with a bas-relief design, painted black in the recessed areas, depicting three Jews taking advantage of a German farmer. Across the top is a banner with German text: “DIESER PFLUG WÄR NICHT SO SCHWER WENN LEVY COHN UND SCHMUL NICHT WÄR” (“This plow would not be so heavy were Levy Cohn and Schmul not here”). A farmer stands behind a plow pulled by two horses. He is frowning and holds his downturned head with one hand and a whip in the other. Three Jews, in hats and long coats, have smug facial expressions and large noses. They sit on and weight down the plowshare. Each holds a document with German text: “Wechsel / Dokument / Hypothek” (“Bill of exchange / Document / Mortgage”). Germany, circa 1890. Steins with anti-Jewish images were very popular in late 19th century Germany. The constitution of the newly unified Germany, adopted in 1871, emancipated all Jews. The following decades saw a surge in anti-semitism. It was more vicious and openly expressed, and became a popular cause for several political parties.
