Antique 1800's Wilhelm Schiller & Son Austrian Ceramic Beer Stein Gnomes Grapes Barrels Casks Austria

- VERY RARE Antique 1800's Wilhelm Schiller & Sons Austrian Ceramic Beer Stein Tankard (No Lid)

- Tapered Vessel with Raised Designs of Various Gnomes, including a large drinking gnome at the end of a barrel, 

   a Baby (?), Wine or Beer Barrels Casks, A Trellis with Grape Vines, Leaves and Grapes, A Gnome Holding 

   a Shield that probably had writing or design on it, but is unreadable now.

- The ends of 3 small wine casks are shown, each with a year inscribed (I can only fully read one):  

  178(?), 1811, and 188(?)

- A Branch or Grape Vine-shaped Handle

- Height:  5.55"

- Diameter at Top:  2.75"

- Diameter at Base (excluding raised designs):  3.83"

- Weight:  1 Lb.

- Bottom Impressed:  27 WS&S

- Condition:  No Chips, Cracks or Repairs…Paint Wear…A little dusty...See All Photos

Rare and Wonderful Piece!  The figures and elements in the design must certainly tell a story (what is the meaning of the dates?), but I am at a loss to figure it out.  I cannot find anything remotely similar to it on the Internet.