Q: I have a Schierholz character half-liter beer stein with a tic-tac-toe mark on the base. I believe the figure is referred to as a "Hunting Rabbit." Can you tell me the age and value of this stein?

A: A pottery was established in Plaue, Thuringia, Germany, in 1816, by Johann and Gottlob Heuacker. Christian Gottfried Schierholz became a partner in 1817. He became sole owner in 1818 and the pottery was renamed C.G. Schierholz & Son. The blue tic-tac-toe or hash mark (this mark #, also called a number sign or a pound sign) was used on character steins from about 1900 to 1906. Sales of steins declined after 1910 and production at the company turned to other decorative pottery. Schierholz made new steins from 1986 to 1995. The company became part of Koniglich Privilegierte Porzellanmanufaktur Tettau (Royal Privileged Porcelain Factory Tettau) in 1995. Your stein, known as "Gentleman Rabbit," was made in various colors. It's worth about $200 to $300.