I picked this little fellow up about 7 years ago at a farmer's auction in the UK. Apart from the fact that he's made by Rosenthal and designed by Karner I know little about him. Can anyone add anything here, any clue what he's worth ?

Thanks
Jonathan

an interesting surprise -

Very nice. Here's my Allach version

Jonathan,

Well, I can tell you most of what you already know, but I might have a surprise ending..?

Not only is this a great rendering of a European Red squirrel, it was sculpted by master-artist/technician, Prof. Theo Kärner.

I believe that at the time this figure was re-cast, the good professor was already working as an artist for the SS. (let's say roughly '35-45) This is a much rarer pattern, 1290 or '99,
I can't make out which was made especially in limited numbers and nicely marked as being a special gift from the firm of Carl Eickhorn.
As an added bonus it sports the "over-the-shoulder," last war-year logo of the Solingen-based company.

The other and much more common version of this squirrel merely lacks the Eickhorn corporate insignia and sentiment - it's still a beautiful example of Rosenthal/Kärner '33-45 porcelain. (just not quite as valuable IMO) As far as a value for the Carl Eickhorn gift, I'd say it was worth at least as much as a nice Army dagger in great condition, eh? It's a beautiful addition for those who are attracted to original Eickhorn memorabilia, nicht?

Now, my turn for a question ... can someone positively validate the earliest use of the "over-the-shoulder" Eichhörnchen? Was it possibly used on their 1940-41 "year-change" Christmas gift to clients for the first time with this example? Things were still going tiptop at this stage of the game, right.. I'd imagine a present like this to an English-speaking Auslander was still in good order at that time?

Erich's piece is further proof of the "old man's" sculpting ability ... top-shelf material.

Meissen also had a lovely Art Deco squirrel that was made in white and Böttger-stein. I'm fairly certain it was sculpted by Max Esser. Max did some far-out stuff..!

I think Mike W. posted his nice stone example somewhere closeby and not so long ago??

Best regards!

Bill

VERY nice piece but I find it quite strange to see the mixture of the late TM with the gift inscription in German and the English word Germany. I know nothing much about these but is this positively a pre 1946 piece?
Hard to imagine any English speaking people friendly to the Germans at that time-even in 1940.

Houston,

I was hoping that someone would pick up on that, good observation. I feel the piece is original in all respects and that's why I'd like to know exactly when this logo first appeared as an official, company approved trademark? Possibly in one of the period hunting/forestry publications, sometime before it appeared stamped onto a blade ricasso .. maybe prewar?

I've not seen or ever heard of these being reproduced and at that available for prices less than those of a normal Rosenthal pattern? Doesn't make sense. More sense would be a decent explanation of the anomaly, not trying too pooh-pooh it at such an early stage, eh?

Sorry I don't have the proper period catalogs
and documentation on this set of circumstances, but if anyone does and can shed more light I'd love to hear more.

Best!

Bill

Hi,
Thanks for the very interesting info, the numbers on the base, as far as I can work out are 1290 / 1 and 10 slightly below it.
Cheers
Jonathan

Could this possibly have been surplus stock that was later stamped and sent out to the UK after the war ?

I'm clueless but he's quite a character and adds a little something to my collection

Jonathan

The "over the shoulder" Eickhorn TM has always been considered post 1941 and there is no doubt it also was used after the war. But even if this piece was made in 1940 I still find it quite unusual -because at that time --What English speaking Country was friendly with the Germans? I can't think of any.

I agree with Bill who's knowledge with this stuff far exceeds my own.
My impression is it's a very good piece. No fakes that I've seen or heard of anyway.

The Eichhörnchen model, number S 1290 was produced in 1934 in two different sizes, Grosse 1 and 2, 18.5cm and 15.5cm high. Through the years this model was brought back into production and I have seen them with different renditions of the Rosenthale marks.

Houston as always I agree with you, the "over the shoulder Eickhorn mark" has been used from 1941 and beyond. Also, the use of the english spelling of "GERMANY" on porcelain is very common among not only Rosenthale manufacturers but by many German porcelain manufacturers whom started this practice as early as 1885, so nothing unusal there.

Under the Rosenthale Germany mark, we see a "V". I think in some cases this V could indicate a month or year of manufacture, but in this case I believe it to mean "vitreous".

In studing the Rosenthale mark we can achieve an approximate date, and in this case the worst mark I've seen on a Rosenthale anything. The mark looks damaged or maybe caused by wear, but still a very nice piece and I certainly wouldn't kick it out of my collection yet for that reason and would love to own it!

I'm no expert, and although this Rosenthale mark doesn't match up perfectly, IMO this piece was probably made in the late 1950's?

I'm looking into something that may or may not pan out and I hope this has helped you a little.

MIKEE-Interesting. As I said I know nothing about these. Are you saying that pieces made during war time--1939-45 were marked Germany?

On the picture below you will find all the Rosenthal makermarks use over the last 100 years or so.
http://www.wwiirelics.com/images/rosenthalmarken.jpg

I have the 1946 version of the squirrel so they did make them post war also.

Kris.

pic2

Kris,

Superb! Another splendid addition, thank you!

Guys, as you'll see right here, three original
logos, all original and all slightly different.

And you thought dagger-maker logos were tough..?

Lucy.., Yu got sum splainin' to dooo ..!

Houston, the word Germany was just sort of "built-in," you could say.

.."curiouser and curiouser ..."

prosit..!

W~

Houston,

Sorry I didn't answer sooner. As can be seen by just the Rosenthale marks alone that Kris supplied. Yes absolutely.
The lastest mark I've seen on this squirrel is the 1960 Rosenthal mark.

Kris,
Nice squirrel, what size is it in cm if I may ask and is the hazel nut actually white in color or is it the lighting? Thank you.

Gents,

Here's the third pattern trademark.

W~

Mikee, the height is about 18 cm and the nut the squirrel is holding is almost white with some brown accents.

Those Rosenthal pieces are of very high quality and if you don't like to spend a lot of $ on Allach they are the next best thing.

Kris.

Another piece of Rosenthal I like a lot from 1935.

Frau und Reh, handpainted.

Kris.

makermark.

Kris,

Thanks for the info,
Absolutely gorgeous and thank you for showing it.

Kris,

You couldn't have said it better, Rosenthal being the next best thing, that is!


They produced some fabulous porcelain subjects -
before and after the III-Reich years for that matter.

There were also some/many smaller German concerns that produced some wonderful porcelain products of all sorts, but I like my animals and they're tops for me.

Another neat thing is to see the different paint-scheme varients utilized by the various staff-artists.

Lots of fun to study, enjoy and proudly display in one's library or collecting room.

Best regards to all!

Bill

Ps I still think the culmination and pinnacle of 20th century German porcelain manufacture was
created and finished by Allach. I'm really glad to see the interest levels rise so high in this particular area. To those of us who can afford it, (even a small piece or two) it's the best to look at and ponder over.., I kid you not. The tiniest mouse is as beautiful as looking at an original Ritterkreuz on it's own ribbon, or a Pour leMerite for that matter.

That stuff's classy by any measure, and you can quote me on that !

Bob Waitts was famous for sharing his knowledge and collection of great stuff like this - for those of you who missed it, he was a great spokesman for the entire hobby. He was one of the absolute best..! really.

Best.

Bill Warda

Well said Bill. I started collecting Allach as a side line and now it's becoming the focal point. If you see a piece you like and can afford it you better buy it because you may not see it again. The squirrel i posted was one of those pieces that are pretty hard to find.