Collectible Figurines Query - Sunrise or Sunrays with GH or HC or HG and DER below

by Marc Tielemans
(Swindon, England)

Collectible Figurines Query - Sunrise or Sunrays with GH or HC or HG and DER below

Collectible Figurines Query - Sunrise or Sunrays with GH or HC or HG and DER below:- Hi, I wonder if you could help identify this mark ? This is a ceramic bird with egg shell below, about 12cm in height in total. The mark has a sunrise with the initials H over C or G below and the words TRADE MARK, and DER below that in a diamond shape. Two photos enclosed (edited into one .jpg image)

Many thanks,

Marc Tielemans

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Reply by Peter (admin)

To Collectible Figurines Query - Sunrise or Sunrays with GH or HC or HG and DER below

Hi Marc

This query about GH or CH or HC or HG and DER below is a gem! It is just the sort of query we like to sort out and come up trumps for the visitor.

Marc, DO NOT sell the bird fig without getting an expert appraisal. When I first saw it my first reaction was 'QUALITY' - just to look at it. I had no idea who made it though, there were just tell tale signs of high skills (a thin egg like this is difficult in porcelain etc).

However, it was very hard to find info on this mark (nothing in my books), but when I did some more digging, WOW!

This firm is GH - Gebruder Heubach (translated as the Heubach Brothers), a firm working in Lichten, Germany, from 1840 to 1925 making dolls and collectible figurines. They are a real quality maker - very collectible and rare. Figurines go for hundreds of dollars, the dolls go for thousands.

To find the value of similar collectible figurines save some searches on ebay. If unsure how to do this, go to my China Replacement page to find out.

Some Information about Gebruder Heubach

Gebruder Heubach (translated as the Heubach Brothers), was a firm working in Lichten, Germany, from 1840 to 1925.

They are best known for bisque dolls and doll heads as well as a small number of collectible figurines – some in bisque (dating mainly from the 1880’s) and also glazed (dating mainly from the 1900’s).

In my view their figurine art is of the highest quality – both in terms of make and sculpting. They are also rare. The combination of these two things make prices top end.

They are known also for a range of collectible figures called “Piano Babies”. Used in Victorian parlors to hold shawls on top of pianos, Piano Babies became very popular and today an original Heubach piano baby can fetch up to $1500.00.

Gebruder Heubach is not to be confused with Ernst Heubach of Koppelsdorf, Germany, who also made porcelain items and dolls.

How To Do Effective Pottery Marks Research Easily

Offline

You can utilize the reference books at your local library, ask your local auction house for an opinion, or purchase your own set of reference books.

Online

Note: Pottery marks online research is a time consuming and often thankless task. Free pottery mark online information is often limited to the websites of antique dealers who tend to have only selective information. The most thorough antiquarian online databases are private and levy a charge. Some are better than others, but a good one can often be both cost effective and time saving.

I always pass on any information I have for free and publish it for all to benefit from. You can use the in-house search engine located on the home page (and on most main pages) to look for the answer to your query.

My China Replacements page tells you how to use various online resources to search for both replacements and how to value your item or collection.

My own knowledge more centered on famous English china makers, but all queries are welcome.

If I don't know the answer, I know which websites might. Below is a list of my recommendations.

Here are the pages I recommend for your own online research:

English China Manufacturers

fill in a form here

Gotheborg.com - Chinese & Japanese and Far East porcelain marks

Porcelainmarksandmore.com - German and East European porcelain marks

Collectorscircle.com - Bohemian & Czech china marks

Oldandsold.com – French pottery marks

Oldandsold.com - American pottery marks

General tips on pottery marks

Using a Professional Online Antiquarian Service

If you want to shortcut and can spare the cost of a couple of cups of coffee, I recommend going straight to Whats-it-worth.

They are online antiquarians, specializing in identifying pottery marks.

They are quick, efficient, friendly and not expensive. The choice is up to you.

They are best for one off queries and also run online courses (a great resource if you want to short-cut your china antiquing learning curve).

If you think you may have a series of ongoing queries (you are getting seriously into antiquing), you need John at Marks4Antiques.

You may have noticed some of the replies on this website are written by him. He and his team have an amazing knowledge but in order to have them on-board full-time, you have to join their membership site. We were lucky enough to have him answer some of the more obscure queries for free – in order to give a kind of taster to their site. For more details on John’s database and antiquarian expertise, contact me as I have negotiated a special price for my visitors.

Finally, I think many china antiquers would benefit from is a fun and interesting ebook with all the tips and tricks of the pros called 'How To Buy & Sell Antiques For Fun & Profit'. Buy it and find out why ebooks work – much more efficient than carrying around lots of heavy books on antiquing!! Have it on your laptop, like a mobile library, and it will save you time, money and effort - and show you how to earn a few dollars more whilst having fun.

'How To Buy & Sell Antiques For Fun & Profit'.

Check it out here:

www.figurines-sculpture.com/buy-and-sell-antiques-for-fun

Best regards

Peter (admin)