What should a beer mug look like? The History of Cookware

Nobody will argue that a beer mug has appeared simultaneously with the creation of the drink itself. For all of its existence, it has often changed its appearance, so it is now difficult to say what the first version actually was.

A bit of history

Beer is the oldest product, which was well known both in Europe and in the East. As you know, the culture of consuming any drink involves the use of certain dishes. That is why a few centuries ago the first beer mug appeared. Scientists put forward many different theories, trying to prove where exactly this happened. Nevertheless, in all known catalogs this kind of dishes is called just Stein. Translated from German this word means "jug" or "beer glass". Over time, a special vessel became an obligatory attribute of the famous drink. For all time of its existence beer mug was made of the most different materials. Originally it was wood and leather.

But later people realized that such utensils are not very practical. In addition, during use, the material absorbs the beverage in itself, as a result of which its taste qualities deteriorate. A little later, in the 17th century, beer containers were made of tin. This method of production was the simplest and cheapest. Initially, lead was added to the tin, but later, after discovering the poisonous nature of the substance, it was replaced with bismuth, copper and even silver. In the Middle Ages, a beer mug must have had a lid. It was used to prevent any insects from entering the product. As you know, in the 14-15 centuries in many European countries, outbreaks of plague and other contagious diseases were noted. So the lid was a kind of sanitation tool. With the development of technical progress, the appearance of the product itself also changed. He began to cook from ceramics and porcelain, covering with a multicolored glaze. Later, there were models of silver, and in the 20th century the vast majority of mugs were made of glass.

Traditions of Soviet times

In Russia, beer has also been one of the most popular drinks since ancient times. This product was cooked in almost every home. For a long time it was used from clay mugs, and from the beginning of the last century the main material for making such utensils was glass. In pre-revolutionary Russia, the volume of utensils was not given much importance. And after the introduction in September 1918 of a special system of measures, standards were set for all household products. Later in 1927 the Soviet beer mug acquired a certain shape and size. According to the all-union standard (GOST 3550), its volume could be 0.5 and 0.25 liters. A separate drawing of the product was attached to the document, on which its overall dimensions were clearly defined. Initially, the boundary level of the volume of dishes was applied mechanically. Later, the appearance of the mug was slightly improved, on the upper part of it appeared a special ledge in the form of a ring.

Since then, the dishes have not changed. In the Soviet times, many glassworks of the country were engaged in its production: Urshely, Popasnyansky, Artemovsky, Chernyatinsky, Chudovsky, Sverdlov plant in Zolotkovo and many others. At the bottom of each product, as a rule, a special stamp was placed with the indication of the volume and the manufacturer.

Variety of species

A rich history of beer was accompanied by the creation of numerous accessories necessary for its use. Now thousands of different types and models of mugs for a popular foam drink are known. Many of them have long been collectibles. In international catalogs you can find products of the most unusual form and execution, from wooden models with metal hoops and ending with elegant samples from glass. What just did not make a beer mug? A photo of each model can tell a lot about its creator. For example, the products of their Khokhloma with color painting immediately give the manufacturer from Russia. And spectacular examples with covers indicate that the manufacturer, most likely, was in Europe.

Very often, thematic drawings are painted on the surface of such objects. They can be dedicated to certain events or memorable places. Recently, mugs with original inscriptions are very popular. These can be the wishes of health and happiness, as well as various jokes and jokes.