Porcelain Mark "M" over "R" and "N" in box

Porcelain Mark

Porcelain Mark

Porcelain Mark "M" over "R" and "N" in box:- Purchased at yard sale in gold county of California. Stands 3 inches tall. That's all I know, can you help with mark? my book of marks does not show this one.


Thanks

Diane

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Reply by Peter (admin)

Thanks for your interesting query, I really appreciate the time and trouble you took to contact the site and share.

Interesting impressed marks on a 'Hummel' type figure. Not showing in any of my books, I'm afraid - so must be quite obscure. I don't think this is the type of mark an importer from china or Japan would be using - looks European to me.

*****UPDATE*****
Answer has now been found. This is not a European mark as such, but an American mark from a volume importer called Marks and Rosenfeld who, presumably, sourced their goods from all over, including the Far East. This explains why the mark does not look like a Far East mark, but the goods often do have that mass produced (cheap) look to them.

Marks and Rosenfeld were a major US giftware importer and distributor who also commissioned their own range of china and glass ornaments and gift ware using various versions of the M R pottery mark. So despite the German sounding name, nothing directly to do with German manufacturing at all. It is very likely the Hummel look alike wares were mass produced abroad (possibly in Germany, but could have been Japan at that time) and then distributed to the US department stores and speciality retailers.

Whether there is a connection between these Hummel style figures and the similar Arnart figurines imported from Japan over a similar time period, is unknown. In my view it is quite likely the same maker, but this is just a guess.
*****END UPDATE*****

original reply continued.....

However, I could be wrong, so if anyone has any information, please post in the comments section (see below for link).

For general advice on how to either price up your collection or find replacements for it, I wrote this page: The Searching Secrets To Finding Your China Replacement Online ….more.

For specific advice on how to ‘save a search’ on eBay (for pricing or finding your desired item) go here: How to easily find replacements, prices and information on vintage and antique china online ..... more

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Best regards

Peter (Admin)

Comments for Porcelain Mark "M" over "R" and "N" in box

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me too
by:

I have a bust with the same m and r and can find no maker! Good luck!
Large stylized 'M' over small 'R'
by: Anonymous


I have a lovely porcekain bust of the Madonna with this same manufactures mark...
Hopefully, someone will come here soon to identify it.

Yjanks...
M and R Pottery Mark
by: Baffled

I have a 28 inch, 3 piece jardiniere with the intials M/R inside a shield. Does anyone know anything about the mark or the jardiniere?
M over R is this German? - Here's a great clue!!
by: Doris

Hi Diane,
I too have the same mark beneath my figurine on a boy holding a bunny. Even the base seems identical, just different numbers but still in green color. The person who gave it to me said his grandmother brought it back from Germany along with some authentic Hummels. I wonder if this is of any help. I know it is not a Hummel just what is it I'd like to know.
Doris
R inside M Pottery Mark
by: Peter (admin)

Bringing this item back from Germany along with other Hummels is an enormous clue, many thanks. In my original reply I said I thought this was perhaps European rather than Japanese. The item itself looks as if it could have been made in the Far East, but the mark does not look in the Japanese trying to impersonate a European style.

We'll get to the bottom of this maker yet!

Peter (admin)
clue
by: cyndi

My aunt was a huge Hummel fan and left me 4 fiqures with the "M' over "R" etc. On one of the fiqures is the smallest edge of a price sticker from Walt Disney. So I'm guessing from Epcot German Town?

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Peter (admin) says:

*******
UPDATE
*******
The answer to this query is on this page M R Pottery Mark (scroll down to the comments section). Marks and Rosenfeld were a major US giftware importer and distributor who also commissioned their own range of china and glass ornaments and gift ware using various versions of the M R pottery mark. So despite the German sounding name, nothing directly to do with German manufacturing at all. It is very likely the Hummel look alike wares were mass produced abroad (possibly in Germany, but could have been Japan at that time) and then distributed to the US department stores and specialty retailers. Whether there is a connection between these Hummel style figures and the similar Arnart figurines imported from Japan over a similar time period, is unknown. In my view it is quite likely the same maker, but this is just a guess.
**********
END UPDATE
**********
M/R in Shield
by: Anonymous

It is the one of the marks from Marzi & Remy they are a German company. They where big with beer steins.

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The forum Help Elf says:

Dear Anonymnous

I am not an expert in these marks but from the evidence of the two threads we have on this MR mark and looking at the difference between the mark and the wares shown both here on this site uploaded by visitors and looking at the Marzi & Remy marks and wares shown here:-

Marzi & Remy MR marks

I would conclude that this particular mark is definitely NOT that of Marzi & Remy, but, as Peter postulates below, it is the mark of Marks and Rosenfeld who were an importer into the US who also commissioned their own range of china and glass ornaments and gift ware using various versions of the M R pottery mark.

Thanks for trying anyway.

Helf Elf
M over R Sears, Roebuck and Co
by: Veronica

http://images.shopgoodwill.com/28/8-9-2012/sa504111689-hb.jpg

There is a picture of a ceramic canister here with the M over the R, and as you can see, it also says it's from Sears, Roebuck and Co.
R inside M
by: Anonymous

i have two basket weave yellow with sunflower boarder ceramic jars both with #959 i would guess from the 60's..
M over R
by: Aimee

I have a Cookie Jar with this same M over R mark along with a foil sticker Made in Japan.
China cup markings
by: MMM

I have a small china novelty child's cup with the same porcelain mark "M" over "R" but no "N" in a box
however there is an ink branding of the base with the marks saying Japan. I don't know if this is the same as the other queries.
M over R
by: Chairschlepper

I have a teapot and 2 cups decorated with squirrels, flowers and leaves. The teapot is impressed with the M over R in this discussion. It is also printed over the glaze "E-9201, copyright 1977, ENESCO". There are also paper Enesco labels on two of the pieces. Now I would like to know what is the connection between Marks & Rosenfeld and Enesco?
M over R & N in box
by: Sue in BellevueAnonymous

My Hummel-type boy figurines are approx. 50-60 years old. I, too, have the boy with bunnies, green hat #9969, M over R. The other one is playing a cello, has tan hat & red bird his hand, #176 marked M over R & N in box. Both figures are leaning on a fence and approx. 3" high.
A 5" boy playing a violin, napsack on right side of his tan/orange coat, unbrella over right shoulder and brown dog sitting in front of him listening. It has no marks, paint & dull finish very much like a Humnel and is white ceramic or very hard plaster of paris type composition. An early Hummel? Thanks for trying to find answers to my "inheritance" from 93 yr.-old-aunt. Sue
"L" with "M over R in enclosed horseshoe shape"
by: Shane

Moderator says:- This post has been moved here as it shows the M R mark of Marzi & Remy - to see how it compares with other MR mark shown above.
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Shane says:-

I was rummaging one day through my recently deceased grandfathers house and I happen to find a bunch of ceramic lidded steins in a couple of old boxes in garage. Along with this particular one were 4 west Germany made lidded steins as well as 2 Brazilian handcrafted lidded steins.

This is the only one I have not been able to identify.


m-r-mark-stein



Appears to be British in origin due to the artwork and symbols on base but that's only a guess. The detailed and raised artwork consists of a vase like vessel with a sceptre protruding from it on the front centre(opposite handle) Next to the vessel on both side of the stein are two dragon like creatures coming out of what appears to be water.

They are facing towards each other and in between them is a winged-human like being wearing what looks to be a crown. It is dark blue (almost navy) and the raised artwork is a light blue with the dark blue being used for the shading effect.

Shane

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Peter (admin) says:-

To:- origin query- "L" with "M over R in enclosed horseshoe shape"

Hi Shane

Your stein is a German stein made by a company called Marzi & Remy based in Hohr. They were founded in 1879 and went on until the 1990's.

This particular WR shield mark was used in the 1960's. The L is just some kind of production mark.

Nice object, thanks for telling it's story.

Peter (admin)
R inside an M
by: Candida

I have a part of the mushroom canister set sold by sears in 1978. not only does it have that info and made in japan stamped on it, the capital R inside a capital M is incised on the bottom. not sure how to attach a photo or would! email somethingwiccan@aol.com
M over R
by: Anonymous

I just got a Disney figurines with that big M with an R under, the tag read, made in Taiwan ..
girl feeding duck
by: Anonymous

I have a genune porcelain figurine of a little girl holding an umbrella, feedind a cookie to a duck. She is sitting on a tree log. Marks on bottom are an R under an M, and an N in a square. Figurine measures 3 inches from top to bottom. I'm looking for info of where it's from and possible value.
M with R inside mark
by: Anonymous

i just recently found a ceramic set of canisters with the mark R inside and under M and stamped.. made in Japan Sears Roebuck and Co. 1976
MR Marks and Rosenfeld Markings
by: Peter (admin)

MR, or Marks and Rosenfeld were an importer into the US who also commissioned their own range of china and glass ornaments and gift ware using various versions of the M R pottery mark.

Sears Roebuck is a large US retailer that, I believe, had past its prime in the 1970s.

You item sounds a bit like a mass-produced import from the Far East, therefore would only have decorative and sentimental value, rather than any collectible value.

It's a keeper if it looks good and has some sentimental value.

Peter (admin)
M over R figurines
by: MJE

I have a 3 piece nativity set that is beautiful with the M over R marking only (no N in a Box). I worked at a retail floral shop in the late 70's early 80's and the set was used in a floral design made at our Cleveland office. Mary is sitting with one hand extended and the other over her heart, a bird is perched on her knee. The baby Jesus is lying in a straw manger, he has blonde curls, a blue blanket and a red bird is perched at the base of the manger. Joseph is tall and thin (12") holding a staff with praying hands. His under garment is red and his cloak is green. I have been searching for many years for other figures to complete this Nativity set. All items look like porcelain bisque. I would love to know more about the set and if other pieces are available
mark " M over R"
by: Leonie

I have just picked up a teapot with "M over R" mark on it.
In addition to that it has a blue and silver sticker
"Gempo Giftware", which appears to be an Australian giftware shop.It also has the word "JAPAN" Indented as well. So after reading previous information on earlier posts, dose that mean, it was made in Japan for the US company "Marks and Rosenfeld", and then imported to Australia by "Gempo Giftware"?
TO MJE
by: DGB


I have the 3 wise men to the set. I'm not sure that Joseph is really Joseph; it looks more like a shepherd. Wasn't Joseph a carpenter?
dbrunk99@yahoo.com
Joseph
by: Anonymous

Yes, He was a carpenter

The joseph I have is in brown with a green cloak. He is holding a staff, with his head slightly bent down. I also located a shepherd to the set that is noticabley shorter then the wise men or Joseph. If you have the original wise men and not ceramic copies (like mine ) I would be interested in purchasing them from you. Let me know and thank you for your comments
Joseph
by: Diane

To Anonymous. Could you post of photo of your Joseph? I have been looking for one as I still think the figurine that I use as Joseph is really a shepherd.
Send pics to me to upload
by: Peter (admin)

Hi Guys

Interesting discussion.

Send any pics to me at peter@theclayartist.com

and I will post up here.

MAKE SURE YOU MARK IT FOR THIS THREAD

"Porcelain Mark "M" over "R" and "N" in box"

OR IT WON'T GET HERE!

Thanks

Peter (admin)
Porcelain Mark "M" over "R" with NO "N"
by: Anonymous

Hi gang, I was hoping this figurine of mine was rare and worth millions. Wish I could attach a few pictures but mine is 7 1/2 inches tall and it doesn't look Hummel to me. Also seems to be hand painted not mass produced, but, what do I know. I've searched high and low and this is the first place I've seen anything with this mark. Thanks!
M R and Enesco
by: Anonymous

I have a kitschy Enesco teapot and mug set with raccoons and owl with Ensesco sticker and the M over R engraved. I believe these importers brought over all kinds of giftware.
Porcelain Mark "M" over "R" and "N" in box
by: Diane

Wow, years later I see the discussion. I still have the figurines..can't part with them even though they have no monetary value. The story behind them....one of my hospice patients was trying to raise money for her funeral so it wouln't be a burden to her family. (this was back in the mid 90's).she was selling hand made quilts etc. I purchased these to help her. She had told me they were her grandmothers...the pt was in her late 50's at the time. So you see they have value to me.
Thank you to everyone who commented.
it nis also known as MARURI 1940s to 1960s NEW
by: Anonymous

I came across a gravy boat and thought it might have been German or french. But it is most definitely made in Japan, and is called "Maruri" style. it was very popular in the 1940's. Mine has the M over the r. It s has several complete sets available online. Not selling for much sadly, considering the age, of almost 80 years. Hope this helps. Maruri is still manufacturing figurines.
Porcelain bisque nativity set
by: DGB

I'm still looking for additional pieces to my nativity set. I think that I am lacking Jesus. What I thought was Jesus (with a staff) is probably a shepherd as Jesus was a carpenter. I've been using my piece as Jesus since I lacked that piece.
Any information on Joseph?
I have Mary, Baby Jesus, 3 wise men, sheep, donkey, camel, cow, & Joseph/shepherd.
N inside box NEW
by: Anonymous

The stylized capital N inside a box is Napcoware.
Resemblance to Rodach mark NEW
by: CGB

The impressed MR mark looks like an early Max Roesler, Rodach mark to me, they impressed some of the pieces of Dresden studio porcelain- but because it's this style of figurine, and because as someone mentioned above the N seems to indicate Napco, it's not Roesler...someone was obviously trying to capitalize on his reputation, though.
porcelain mark m over r
by: alan regan

i have a lovely kingfisher on treestump and a black bird 0n treestump the answer to hwo makes them is (maruri) my birds have there names on the m over r and the name under maruri,i checked this online and they produce hundreds of things hope this answers the question.
M over R and N in box
by: Patti

I've just purchased 8 little porcelain figurines, some have stickers with N in box for Napcoware. Girl with ducks, Girl with Racoons, Girl w Owls, Girl w Cat, Boy with Squirrels, Boy w bunnies, Boy w Cat. I've seen them referred to as Napco Tiny Tots...I was trying to identify the M over R as well. Thank you. Patti
email. pattisue.rn22@gmail.com

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