I have this guy from my childhood. I have never seen another one, nor anything similar. He has an Enesco sticker on the bottom and the number 'E-5238'. I included a picture of the bottom, but I don't know if it is a legible size.
I am asking for information about him if anyone knows. Is he part of a family of figurines? How would I find others like him? Is he from a collection or artisan that someone would collect?
He is one of the Pupics Figurines by Enesco. I want to say they where 1950s figures. Supposed to be aliens. There was a red, blue, and brown one. One was moishe...don't remember the others.
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Hi I found these cute figurines. They have a marking on them. Who made them? I would like to know more about them!
Thank you.
I have done a search on the marking on this piece and here is what I can tell you for sure. All the known marking for porcelain and figurine doesn't have a mark like this at all. However, this mark looks like it was a combination of two different marks that are used in Germany and Great Britain to mark their pieces. In these markings used in both of these countries, the mark is not laid on the side like in yours. it is standing up and down.
I believe these to be made in Japan in the "WWII era" as knock-offs of Hummel (as noted by Judy) or W&A Bertram (Appel). A similar to your banjo boy is listed on ebay today for $12 USD www.ebay.com/
I am still searching but I have ruled out:
Hummel
W&A Bertram
Dresden
Meissen
Ardalt
I have a feeling the mark is an "homage" mark--so close that it tries to get people to think it is a brand, but it is not. I can try a few more of my sources just to make sure I am not missing something.
Hummels were born in the 1930s so these are post Hummel. These type of pieces had a hey day in the 1950s and 1960s--so best guess would be these are from that era when people were trying to get people to think they had the originals.
That said, there are still pieces like this sold today in our dollar stores, so it could have been made last month! To be honest, it is really hard to pinpoint facts with these type of pieces unless you were the original owner.
If I learn anything more, I will post back! Thanks for sharing! I always love a good figurine mystery!
HOMECO is a US brand, you may have heard of Home Interior Company. They are related. They were a multi level, home party program that started in the 1950s. They made "homage" pieces to Hummels, but had a very clear mark and usually a paper sticker. The mark was two very clear arrows and either a circle or an oval--you can find some of their common markings here:
I am looking for more information on this little guy, who is 4"H and marked Germany on the back. It's hollow and there is a pinhole sized hole above his pocket.
I thought this was a pie bird, but the bottom isn't arched. Smokers usually had an open mouth.
While I am not 100% positive, I don't think he is a Rose O'Neill Kewpie doll. Those are typically marked with her name--although I suppose the label could me be missing, but most were NOT on a stand like this, and I have never seen one with any holes in their chest as you describe.
Until it can be confirmed, this is a Kewpie STYLE--unfortunately, Kewpie has become like Kleenex--which is a brand name that people but where people use it to describe similar, not branded items...like people call all tissues Kleenex or all bandages Band-Aid.
I know I am being a bit picky here...but in the resell world, you can get into a whole heap of unhappy buyers if you call something something that it is not.
I am still digging in my files to see if I can find out more.
Can you tell me if he is bisque (which is a rough material) or porcelain (which is smooth).
Also, you say he is hollow--can you show the underside--bottom of the stand? Is that open--what you are referring to as hollow?
It is possible if the bottom is open that he is some kind of pie baker to release the steam...usually those are birds, but I have seen other things that function in the same manner--seeing the bottom may help me figure it out.
Maybe with a little more info, I can find more details!
Thanks for posting!
My goodness - Pghgirl you do bring back memories!
I always knew the item you're talking about as a 'pie bird' and at one time all the homebody ladies had at least one.
I'm not sure this is one of those as most larger ones usually had 'vents' on the bottom sides but this could have those vents also (no picture of sides or bottom).
I keep thinking the little hole held some type of stick/flag/handkerchief or ?? But that is just my thinking.
If you will join the Reddit site and post these pictures, I feel sure you will have an answer if a few days. This site shows amazing results on all kinds of things that are difficult to find information on.
It takes a little getting used to but the administrators are very helpful and can guide you to the correct group to post to.
Please let us know if you find out what this little fellow really is (besides being cute).
Now - just in case someone wishes to know what Pghgirl is calling a 'pie baker/etc' here are some notes and links to check out.
"Pie birds (also known as pie funnels, pie chimneys, and pie whistles) are hollow ceramic devices used to keep pies from bubbling over in the oven by providing ventilation from the hot filling through the crust."
This was included in my collection of Wade (Red Rose tea) figurines. I collected them as a child in the 70s in Canada. After some research I don't see this one included in any of the series they put out.
If it is not Wade, can you please identify it? Thanks so much.
I am curious if anyone knows who this artist is? It resembles a Florence but has a personal name "Margie 1949" in gold inside.
Found these adorable angels at a very upscale estate sale with lots of French and English vintage and antique items. They average about 4-5 inches tall. All have variations of the same mark.
I've searched eBay and used Google Lens -- nothing similar. I would so love to know more about them. Thank you!
I have this figurine but don't know nothing about what is it made of. Is it ivory? Other animal bone? Is it Chinese or Japanese and if so, what would you call the figure? A warrior, king, etc. Certainly as I have absolutely no idea of what it is made of, what do you think its value is? Hope someone can help me. Thanks!
Can anyone tell me anything about provenance date and value of this figurine? It has foreign stamped on the bottom so Im guessing its not English and it used to belong to my grandmother.
Other than than I dont know anything about it.
There were so many of this type of figurine available in the '5 & 10 cent stores' and so many are now posted for sale online that most likely this one will be very low value and may be difficult to sell.
The 'Foreign' mark is on a lot of this type figurine and the more you research the origin the more confusing it gets.
This is the conclusion that most historians come to:
"So the mere presence of a 'FOREIGN' mark says absolutely nothing about the age or the intended target market of an item, in fact these items require intensive research as to place them correctly."
Some say it was used between 1893 and 1923 but others say it was used off and on for many years after that - so no help there.
I found one statue that resembles yours but has 'Occupied Japan' but yours could have been from the East also.
www.etsy.com/
This one on eBay appears to be your figurine and the price looks reasonable (not very much profit with free shipping) but hopefully it will sell and that is sometimes what matters.
www.ebay.com/
Can anyone identify this ceramic figure? It is 17 cm tall and 12 cm wide across the base. There are no markings on it. Also does anyone have an idea of the value? Thanks.
You state there are no markings or numbers on the bottom but just seeing how the bottom 'looks' helps to identify age and how it was made.
To me, this looks just like the inexpensive pieces sold in the "5 & 10" and Woolworth's, Kress, McCrory's, Ben Franklin, W.T. Grant, Murphy's, in the 70's as this was when many of the expensive brand names were so popular but families like mine could not afford a Hummel but still wanted some pretty items to sit on our shelves. There were no names on these figurines as they were made in the thousands and sold to many different stores.
Maybe my memory is not that good but that's what this resembles to me.
Hopefully, PGHgirl will find something else.
What or who is the maker with the initials H.A on the bottom of this figurine or an old man?
My grandmother took a lot of ceramic classes at the senior center near her. They had all kinds of molds she could choose from to paint and fire. They had small figurines like this one. I think this is from a senior center that holds craft classes for seniors.
The paint looks too good (to me) to be a class project.
There is a brand called "Norleans" that had paper stickers on their bottom and many of their pieces were "signed" by the staff member who painted them.
You may have one of their pieces. I see these at the flea market and yard sales priced from 1-3 dollars if that is what you have.
He looks like a leprechaun. Very cute! If you are going to sell him, I would try in February for St. Paddy's day!
Thanks for sharing!
