by Frank Loevi
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Apparently I wasn’t the only one who saw the natural synergy between the Bulldog and the Churchill-size cigar clamped in his formidable jaw. The Cigar Bulldog was an instant hit with collectors, as were the other steins in the series that followed, now totaling fifteen porcelain canines, including no less than seven variations on the cigar smoking Bulldog theme. But more about the rest of the series later. First, a little background.
Concept and Design
The initial idea that led to both the Cigar Bulldog and the Man’s Best Friend series came from the fertile mind of Henry Cornell, owner of M. Cornell Importers, Inc., in St. Paul, Minnesota. Helping at the outset to turn that concept into reality was Ralph Massey, a free-lance sculptor whose work has been regularly featured in Cornell products. Several other in-house sculptors have also worked on the series over the years, along with Nora Widgen, a local Minnesota artist who has been responsible for the concept sketches and initial drawings on which many of the steins in the series are based. Since 2003, much of the modeling has been handled by Tino Schunke, a sculptor based in Germany, where he is able to work more closely with the manufacturer than had previously been possible.
The Manufacturers
The “s” in “Manufacturers” isn’t a typo. There are actually three manufacturers producing steins for the Man’s Best Friend series. As already noted, the maker of the Cigar Bulldog was Albert Stahl & Co., successor to Ernst Bohne Söhne, a company well known to antique beer stein collectors for it’s high quality character steins. Stahl currently operates in the same Rudolstadt factory used by Bohne more than 100 years ago.
Even before Stahl began work on the Cigar Bulldog it had become clear that, with all commitments considered, the company’s production capacity was stretched to the breaking point. Enter PKT (for Porzellanmanufactur und Krugwerkstätte Thüringen). I wrote about PKT in an earlier article*, and won’t repeat that information here. Suffice it to say that PKT is a sister company located within shouting distance of Stahl, with interlocking management and the ability to produce some 40,000 steins per year, easily enough to make up any shortfall at Stahl and with plenty of capacity to spare for additional products of its own.
As I understand the relationship between the two manufacturers with respect to the Man’s Best Friend series, while M. Cornell Importers, Inc. owns the copyright to all the steins in the series, the individual molds themselves are typically commissioned and owned by the company that produces the stein in question. That being the case, some of the molds were commissioned and are owned solely by Stahl, others were commissioned and are owned solely by PKT, and a few are shared between them. In those instances where the same stein has been manufactured in both factories, the products are virtually identical, and all the steins in the series meet the highest quality standards, regardless of which company is responsible for the actual production.
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It’s possible to tell which factory made any individual stein, but one has to look very closely at the decal on the base. Figure 2 shows a typical base mark decal from the series. Figure 3 shows blown up crown and shield marks for both companies, with Stahl on the left and PKT on the right. The similarity is, of course, no accident. My understanding is that the nearly identical logos were requested by Cornell simply to maintain series consistency.
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Now that we know who designed and produced them, let’s take a look at the steins that followed the Cigar Bulldog.
The Bulldog Parade
By far the most popular canine in the series has been the Bulldog, so in the best entrepreneurial tradition of responding to consumer demand, a total of seven different Bulldog steins have so far been produced.
The Big Band Bulldog (figure 5) was issued in 1999. Second among the bulldogs and fourth in the overall series, he’s dressed to the nines in his black tux and red bow tie. Sax at the ready and cigar firmly planted in his jaw, he appears to be all set for a night of swingin’ at the Ritz. His pose and cigar shaped handle make him a perfect companion to the earlier Cigar Bulldog.
Trading on the success of the first two Bulldogs, 2001 saw the introduction of the Dealer Bulldog (figure 6), third of his breed and the eighth Man’s Best Friend stein overall. Seated behind his card table with the tools of the trade and sporting a stacked poker chips handle, this visored hound can’t help but appeal to the gambler in all of us. Interestingly, unlike both his predecessors and later additions to the group, there’s not a cigar to be found.
Fourth in the Bulldog parade and eleventh overall, the Marine Bulldog (figure 7) returned to cigar chomping tradition. Inspired by Major Jiggs, the Marine mascot since World War I, this 2003 addition to the series is a natural in his role. What Marine wouldn’t feel right at home with this camouflage clad canine, complete with Marine Corps emblem and American flag handle. Semper Fi!
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Following closely on the heels of Major Jiggs, 2004 saw the introduction of the Winston Churchill Bulldog (figure 8), the fifth among the Bulldogs and twelfth in the Man’s Best Friend series. True to both his breed and national heritage, this British Bulldog couldn’t be more appropriately dressed with his conservative gray suit over a Union Jack vest. The ever-present cigar that now bears the name of the famed statesman who inspired him helps to complete the picture, along with a very British top hat and umbrella-shaped handle.
With 2006 came the introduction of two more Bulldogs. The sixth member of the Bulldog parade and fourteenth overall has been dubbed the Smokin’ Bulldog (figure 9), apparently a reference to his ability to “smoke” the competition with either his skills on the gridiron or the lit cigar clinched tightly between his teeth. Although neither his uniform nor marketing literature makes reference to any particular team, the connection to the red and white uniforms of the Georgia Bulldogs is hard to miss. Presumably Georgia alumni are among the principal target audiences for this football playing Bulldog in his Heisman Trophy pose.
Later in 2006 a black-robed Barrister Bulldog made his debut (figure 10) as the fifteenth Man’s Best Friend. Ready for court with his powdered wig, gavel and law books, this cigar smoking jurist is surely destined to become a favorite among the those who earn their living at the bar.
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And so ends the Bulldog parade, but there’s much more to the Man’s Best Friend series than just Bulldogs, with eight other breeds represented and certainly more to come.
The Other Canine Characters
In recent years, one of the most popular purebred pets, at least in the U.S., has been the Labrador Retriever, creating an ideal consumer environment for the production of what was the second stein in the Man’s Best Friend series (Figure 11). Introduced in 1998, the Labs come fully decked out for a day of duck hunting, complete with camouflage vest and hat, binoculars, duck call and decoys. In real life, of course, Labrador Retrievers are found in several different colors, so with that fact in mind, the decision was made to paint them accordingly. Like all of the Man’s Best Friend steins, the total issue quantity for the Labs is limited to 5000, but in this case that number was subdivided into three different color options: 2000 Black (shown); 1000 Chocolate; and 2000 Yellow. My understanding is that the Chocolate Labs have been sold out and are now available only in the secondary marketplace.
In terms of popularity with dog lovers, it would be hard to beat the German Shepherd, so it was no surprise that Shepherds were selected for the third edition in the series (figure 12). Arriving on dealer shelves in early 1999, the Shepherds also came in three different versions. However, in this case it was more than just paint that distinguished one from the other. Beyond some differences in the colors of their outfits, the bases on all three are the same, but each has a different lid inlay (i.e., head). As can be seen in figure 12 (left), the “American Police Dog” version, comprising 2000 of the 5000 edition limit, comes with a blue shirt, tie and cap typical of police uniforms throughout the country. The “American Sheriff Dog” version (figure 12, right: 1000 copies) gets a brown shirt and white tie, with a completely different wide brim uniform hat. Both are posed with reference books bearing titles like “The Art of Sniffing” and “Obedience School”. As was the case with the Chocolate Lab, the American Sheriff Dog was a sellout and has been retired. The third variation (not shown) is a “German Police Dog”, dressed much like his American counterpart, but with slightly different badging and a green uniform. The 2000 copies of the German Police dog are being marketed and sold principally in Europe.
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Having produced a stein for the police, I suppose it was only fair that fire fighters got their due, and the following year saw the introduction of a Dalmatian (figure 13), the fifth edition in the series, fully decked out with helmet, fire fighting gear, and even his own fire hydrant serving as a handle, not to mention a budding fire fighter at his feet, eager to learn the tricks of the trade.
In a change of pace from the larger dogs that populated the series in its first few years, with the turn of the millennium came the introduction of the sixth edition, a Scotch Terrier (figure 14). The Scottie is dressed in traditional tartan kilts, and fully accessorized with a kilt pin and a Glengarry hat with clan badge. A bagpipes help to complete the traditional Scottish image, which is further enhanced by a golf bag handle. Like the Labrador Retrievers, the Scotties were initially announced in three different colors: Gray, 500 (shown); White, 1500; and Black, 3000, for a total edition of 5000 pieces. However, somewhere along the line a decision was made to discontinue the gray version after producing only 100 examples and to replace it with “Wheaton” (i.e., tan) coloring for the remaining 400. My guess is that there may have been some production difficulties with the gray coloring but, whatever the reason, the fact remains that only 100 Gray Scotties will ever see the light of day. For those collectors whose stein purchases are influenced, at least in part, by future price appreciation potential, this is clearly a fact worth noting.
As may be seen in figure 14 (right), the Scotties are also being produced in a miniature (4") version. Miniatures exist in the same four colors as the larger steins and, although made in China, quality is comparable in every way to their German-made counterparts.
The year 2000 also saw the introduction of a Fox Hound (figure 15), number seven in the series. If it wasn’t for the outfit, you might mistake him for a Beagle, but this pooch makes it clear that he’s an English Fox Hound (or is it Foxhound) wearing his very British riding outfit and holding a trumpet. With a paw raised above his eyes he searches for his wily prey, but apparently can’t yet find the fox, who’s hiding right behind the stein’s fencepost handle.
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If you’ve got even a hint of old Erin in your blood, you’ve got to like the ninth Man’s Best Friend, an Irish Setter (figure 16). Introduced in 2001, he’s dressed in a Kelly green cloak and tam-o’-shanter, looking much like an Irish bard as he sits in a field of shamrocks thinking of the tales he has to tell, accompanied by his traditional Irish harp. A detailed Celtic cross serves as the handle. Like the Scotties, the Irish Setter stein is also offered in a miniature version (figure 16, right) and is so far the last of only two series members to provide that option.
Continuing in an ethnic vein, 2002 saw the introduction of a German Dachshund (figure 17), crossing the line at number ten in the series. Dressed in Lederhosen, wide suspenders and a hat complete with Gamsbart, a more traditional German outfit would be hard to imagine. Add to that a grilled sausage, a mug of beer, a pretzel and a Black Forest pine tree serving as the stein’s handle and the picture is complete.
And finally, we come to the Barbershop Pug (figure 18), introduced in 2004 as the thirteenth Man’s Best Friend. Unlike all the other steins in the series, I would personally have been hard pressed to come up with an outfit that would work on a Pug, but a striped jacket and straw hat, along with the other accouterments of a singer in a barbershop quartet work like a charm. You can almost hear him singing the base line in Sweet Adeline. If I owned a Pug or was a barbershop harmony devotee, he’d already be on my shelf.
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Some Closing Thoughts
All the steins in this series are hand-painted porcelain and hold three-quarters of a liter. Heights range from ten to nearly thirteen inches. The quality of both casting and painting is as good as can be found on any character stein I’ve seen, new or old.
Among several dozen antique porcelain character steins in my own collection from makers like Bohne and Schierholz, you’ll find two members of the Man’s Best Friend series, as well as a number of other modern pieces from the same makers. Whether it’s an old or new beer stein doesn’t matter much to me. If the quality is there and I like it, home it comes. What I find most interesting about my mixed collection is that, for me at least, it’s much easier to relate to and enjoy contemporary pieces like the Smoking Bulldog stein than many antique characters like, for example, a Bismarck Radish or Hops Lady, steins made to please someone in another century in another country.
For those who collect antique beer steins solely because they’re antiques, these probably aren’t the steins for you. But if you own a dog, or in one way or another can relate to the images they portray (hunting, gambling, law enforcement, and so on), they’re surely worth a trip to your local beer stein retailer for a closer look.
Suggested retail prices for steins in the series are all in the $200 range, but given the competitive selling environment created by the Internet, finding them at prices closer to $150 presents little challenge. The two currently available miniatures are harder to find, but any dealer who has the larger steins can easily get miniatures on request. For miniatures expect to pay something in the $25-$30 range.
When I’ve written articles like this in the past, it’s always resulted in calls and emails from readers who either don’t know where to find a local beer stein retailer or are uncomfortable making purchases from unknown dealers on the Internet. For those who might be interested in adding a member or two of the Man’s Best Friend series to their collection, here’s a suggestion in advance. Visit my good friend Sam May at Sam’s Steins in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. If that’s out of your commuting range, his web site can be found at www.SamsSteins.com and there’s a toll-free number you can call (1-888-442-5726) if you’d rather place your order by phone. Either Sam or his daughter and business partner Samantha will be more than happy to help you out.
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* “PKT: Germany’s Newest Steinmaker”
My thanks to Gail Cornell, who supplied a number of the photographs used in this article and was more than helpful in her responses to questions that arose along the way.
© 2006 Beer Stein Library — All rights reserved.
