“Bares for Rares”: Centuries-old relief inspires Horst Lichter

“Bares for Rares”
This mouth reveals whether there is beer: Horst Lichter is enthusiastic about the centuries-old relief

Horst Lichter has never seen anything like it: A bar indicator from the 17th century stands next to “Bares for Rares”. It shows the legendary King Gambrinus – and his mouth has a special meaning.

When her husband got home with the wooden relief, Christiane Schneburger admits, she just thought: “Another thing that’s lying around.” And so the woman from Swabian Tuningen is happy that her husband Harry also wants to sell the strange part. Because, as he says: “Something’s wrong with your mouth.”

But what exactly is that supposed to be? Expert Bianca Berding is initially holding back the answer. First of all, it only reveals that it is a very old and very rare object. The carving shows the head relief of a king. Next to it are paddles and shovels, which used to be used for brewing beer. There is a reason for this: the king is said to be the legendary Gambrinus, who has been considered the inventor of beer brewing for many centuries.

“Bares for Rares”: This object is centuries old

The mouth can be removed from the relief – and replaced with another. So you can turn a smiling mouth into a negative one. According to Berding, this stands for the statement: There is beer or there is no beer. This also determines the function of the wooden board: it turns out to be a serving indicator that was probably recessed in a door.

The expert estimates that it was probably made at the end of the 17th century. Horst Lichter is enthusiastic: “I think that’s awesome, that thing,” says the moderator happily. “One of the most exciting objects in a long time”. The seller wants 80 euros. Due to the rarity of the relief, Berding is much more optimistic: she thinks 350 to 500 euros is possible.

Wolfgang Pauritsch strikes

The dealers are also initially puzzled as to what the carved piece of wood is about. It might have been part of a ship, speculates David Suppes. Susanne Steiger bets on Neptune. The surprise about the true destiny is correspondingly great.

Wolfgang Pauritsch prevailed against three competitors in the auction and offered 370 euros. But Harrywormburger gambles and asks for “a few Kölsch” on top: he would like 400 euros. The Austrian agrees and pays the desired price. Knowing full well that it is a speculative object.

But Walter “Waldi” Lehnertz doesn’t worry about that: “You can get everything sold, the story just has to be right,” knows the dealer from the Eifel.

source: “Bares for Rares” in the ZDF media library

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