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.
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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. There is an added dark bar at the back of the x that is not present in the other marking that is similar to this one. The marking on the bottom of your piece is not listed in any of the databases I can find. I feel like this company who ever made this figurine has created their own mark to add to the bottom and it is not one they have trademarked or is listed in the databases for marks used on these pieces.
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:
These look like an inexpensive Hummel knockoff.
Thank you. The other figurines I noticed had a better (more clear) marking. I should have added a picture of that one instead. I might have found a marking similar if not the same after researching linking it to HOMCO? Im really not sure though!
I have some Homco figurines and this was what I first thought of but I do not believe any of yours are Homco as most of their figurines are better made (look at the hands and the bottoms are rough and the markings are kinda sloppy). Homco did not use this hairstyle and their products usually have a more finished look.
The story of the Homco company (Homco was an abbreviation of the parent company) is very interesting as it started out as a 'home party' business in 1957. This was because the owner had worked for Mary Kay for 10 years and knew all the angles and contacts of where to buy merchandise. Most of her merchandise came from Asian companies but mostly Taiwan. She used the double arrow as a brand for several years but I could not find out what years each was used or if they represented a different country. They later had manufacturing plants of their own no one seems to know which ones were theirs and which ones they bought from other countries.
This makes it very difficult to date any of the Homco items but the latest ones do not have Homco but Home Interiors and other names. This apparently changed when they sold the company and it now uses another name.
Actually, many of the older Homco figurines now sell for more money than the Hummels.
eBay and Etsy have a lot of both names listed for sale so you can see the difference in the quality of your figurines and the Homco brand.
www.etsy.com/
www.etsy.com/
www.etsy.com/
Your little figurines are cute but I do not believe you can claim them as Homco.
Homeco history:
www.djantiques.net/
I have several HOMCO figurines with an almost identical marking on their bottoms. However, their bottoms are all flat. They also have to two holes in the same positions, except for a smaller one that has only one. In contrast to one comment, I would feel comfortable to call these HOMCO figurines. Mine do all have HOMCO stickers that say Made in Taiwan.
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