U.S.A. / New York:

[1] : Arnart Creations (1953 until 2001)

Arnart has a very restrictive 'no info' policy and inquiries are turned down in a harsh or even rude way (if they are answered at all). Even if the company is very well known for its product range there are some points that remain dubious, especially their actual country of origin. Okay, part of the company is actually Japanese - who cares?

If business started off in some cheaper offices or simple warehouse or if it really instantly started in the office at 212 5th Avenue is of no further importance even if the latter seems improbable as the 5th was quite expensive at that time but an interesting fact is that they still used the 'Arnart Creations Japan' stickers together with the 'Arnart 5th Ave.' mark which was introduced 1957 - which lets one wonder if the design bureau or head office was at that time still located in Japan.

Anyway, during the mid-50's the company decided to make an own series of figurines; this decision was based on the popularity of the Hummel figurines produced by the German Goebel company. Arnart therefore employed the designer Erich Stauffer who should not be confused with the businessman Stouffer which was also into porcelain and owned a decoration business of his own.

Regarding the Arnart pieces that have 'Designed by Erich Stauffer' on them it should be mentioned that many people claim that the items are actually items made by the German 'Kalk' company from the town of Eisenberg in Thuringia. This is of course wrong, just like the urban legend that Stauffer actually worked for the Goebel company or even went on to become the designer that created the famous Hummel figurines.

The Stauffer designs were just one part of the product range and next to items with the Arnart 'beehive' mark the best known Arnart mark is their 'fake Kalk' marking which represents two crossed three-feathered arrows over some kind of number. Interestingly enough one can also find the crossed arrows with a 'Blue Onion' or 'Brown Onion' addition. These marks do not include any numbers and at first I had some doubt if the items were really from Arnart until I found out that in one case the mold is the same as a Arnart 'beehive' marked item and in two other cases the 'onion' marks were accompanied by Arnart stickers.

I never went into the work of finding out if the 'onion' marked and Arnart-labelled items were valid or not because for me it simply counts to state what all these items are not: items by the German 'Porzellanmanufaktur Kalk' or similar.

[2] : Arnart Imports Inc. (2001 until ...)

In the year 2001 the business moved to 230 Fifth Avenue (Suite 2004) and the company 'Arnart Creations' became 'Arnart Imports Inc.', discontinuing many old marks and withdrawing some registrations but otherwise business seems to have continued as usual.

Here are a few trade names and marks used over time by Arnart:

• 'Original Arnart Creation, Japan'
• 'Original Arnart Creation, New York'
• 'Arnart 5th Ave.' (registered 1957)
• 'ArMark'
• 'Royal Carlton' (registered for porcelain tableware in 1957)
• 'Royal Chintz'
• 'Royal Crown' (registered for animal and bird figures 1965 until 1987)

There may also have been others but at the moment I am not interested in finding out more. Not that it really matters as junk remains junk, even if it by now is collectible ;-)

Mark Comments

When checking out marks on items without stickers take a look at the number of feathers on the arrows. If you have normal numbers and three feathers it's mostly Arnart, four feathers mostly HomCo. Note that arrows above numbers with preceding letters are a completely different matter.

Marks

Image 1-01

Closeup of the well-known sticker, trademark was registered on April 30th 1953 and cancelled February 17th 2001.

Image 1-02

Partial Arnart sticker next to a pair of double arrows that appear hand painted. Note that the number includes no letters.

Image 1-03

The Arnart sticker next to a crossed arrow mark (note the 'P' after the number).

Image 1-04

Great picture of the Arnart sticker, a crossed arrow mark and an additional 'JAPAN' sticker. Note that the number includes no letters.

Image 1-05

Crossed arrows mark with four feathers each, here on 'S8372' but ...

Image 1-06

... that mark scheme should not be confused with the version on items designed by Erich Stauffer, also an 'S' in front of the four digit number.

Image 1-07

This is the basic 'Arnart 5th Ave.' mark registered 1957.

Image 1-08

'Arnart 5th Ave.' mark in the 'Royal Chintz' version.

Image 1-09

Another 'Royal Chintz' mark, note the small blue 'MADE IN JAPAN' sticker.
(Picture by Jan-Erik Nilsson)

Image 1-10

Arnart 'beehive' mark, registered in Japan in December 1957 and cancelled February 17th 2001.

Image 1-11

Arnart 'beehive' mark, another four digit number, this time with the leading letter 'A'.

Image 1-12

Arnart 'beehive' mark, note the strange numbering scheme ...

Image 1-13

... which reminds me of the HOMCO system, but all these 'beehives' were on Arnart items and also carried older ARNART stickers.

Image 1-14

Arnart 'beehive' mark with REGISTERED mark, last version used. Note there is no number underneath.

Image 1-15

A 'mini-beehive' with the strange number scheme.

Image 1-16

And another 'mini' - this time with Arnart label and an 'M' followed by a four digit number.

Image 1-17

Arnart 'K.P.M.' mark, even Roentgen incorrectly lists this as German (LOL!).
(Picture by eBay user joflora)

Image 1-18

Same as before, this time with the original '(C) Arnart Creations Inc., NY - Made In Japan' sticker.

Image 1-19

A version of the 'Royal Crown' mark as it can be found on cardboard tags.

Image 1-20

Example of the 'Blue Onion' mark.

Image 1-21

'Blue Onion' mark with rest of Arnart sticker.

Image 1-22

Example of the 'Brown Onion' mark.

Image 1-23

Arnart sticker next to Arnart's own version of the 'crowned N' mark. Folks remove the sticker and then claim the junk is Capodimonte or whatever!