For your consideration is this beautiful chalkware sculpture advertising for Blatz Brewing Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, circa 1930-40s. The Blatz Brewing Company was one of Milwaukee’s industrial brewing giants operating from 1846 to 1959. Fire destroyed a significant portion of the original brewery in 1872. However, this disaster provided Blatz with an opportunity to enlarge and update his facilities with the latest brewing technology. In 1875, Blatz became the first Milwaukee brewery to establish a bottling department to package beer to ship nationally. This bottled beer won top prize at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. By the 1880s, Blatz increased production to over 100,000 barrels a year and expanded the brewery into a complex that spread across three city blocks. The Blatz Brewing Company survived Prohibition years by producing candy, imitation beers and soda. This piece is intricately sculpted and shows a beautiful brewery scene in Germany. The men and women are gathered in a hilltop terrace drinking Blatz beer from glass cups as they laugh and converse. In the background, a valley river can be seen going through the town while the left hand side shows a large castle on a hilltop. The front is unmarked but the back, reads, "Property of Blatz Brewing Co." in black lettering. The piece shows good condition overall with slight wear present from its age and use over the years, but no signs of major damage or wear is noted. It measures 24 3/4" L x 42 5/8" W x 1 1/2" D and weighs 20 pounds and 2 ounces.*