Germany, Imperial. A First World War Patriotic Stein

(1. Weltkrieg Patriotischer Bierkrug). Constructed of glazed off-white earthenware, the exterior bearing intricate hand-painted patriotic imagery consisting of a central 1914 Iron Cross, situated within a circular laurel leaf wreath, topped by a German national eagle with its wings outstretched, in turn circumscribed by rifles, cannons, swords, an Imperial German tri-colour flag, and a Reichskriegsflagge (National War Flag), topped by an inscription of “GOTT MIT UNS” (“GOD WITH US”), the bottom trimmed with a hand-painted blue tresse, featuring a protruding handle topped by a pewter hinge with a thumbpiece presenting as a lyre, in turn connecting to a lid bearing an engraved monogram, with a measurement “1L.” (one litre) etched adjacent to the handle, unmarked, measuring 15 cm (w) (inclusive of handle) x 25 cm (h) (inclusive of thumbpiece), demonstrating some fine hairline cracks to the glaze near the lower edge which do not extend into the earthenware shell, in addition to minor loss of paint, a superb example of patriotica in extremely fine condition.