Crazing
Crazing is a glaze defect of glazed pottery. Characterized as a spider web pattern of cracks penetrating the glaze, it is caused by tensile stresses greater than the glaze is able to withstand. In pottery a distinction is often made between crazing, as an accidental defect, and “crackle“, when the same phenomenon, often strongly accentuated, is produced deliberately. The Chinese in particular enjoyed the random effects of crackle and whereas in Ru ware it seems to have been a tolerated feature of most pieces, but not sought, in Guan warea strong crackle was a desired effect.
Enesco
In 1958, Enesco was the import division for the N. Shure Company. Enesco was founded by its first President, Louis R. “Bob” Miller, Jr. When N. Shure was sold to Butler Brothers, the import division was spun off. The name “Enesco” was an acronym from the N. Shure company, “N S Co”, and phonetically named his company “EnEsCo”.[2] Thereafter, the company was sold three times, and in 1983 became a part of Stanhome, Inc. After separating from Stanhome in 1998, Stanhome immediately collapsed—leaving Enesco with all of Stanhome’s assets.
Fitz & Floyd
Founded by Pat Fitzpatrick and Bob Floyd in Dallas in 1960, the ceramics company that bears their names started out as an import company. It soon expanded into creating and designing ceramic giftware, and Fitz and Floyd moved into tabletop products and accessories like candlesticks, plates, and teapots later in the 1960s.
The company’s hand-painted ceramic gift lines were developed in the 1970s, and the reputation of Fitz and Floyd grew due to the quality of its work and the creative pieces for which the company became known. The company’s in-house design staff developed themes around which entire collections were built. Among their most popular creations were their animal-themed teapots and their pots de creme cups and tea sets. More about Fitz and Floyd
G NOV.CO made in japan
I haven’t found much information on this company except that G Nov. Co stands for G Novelty Company. They were made during or shortly after the occupation in japan. The company produced the “naughty nodders” sometime between the 40’s and 50’s at the height of the pin-up popularity.
Goebel Hummel figurine marks
Since this unique line has been around for so long there are logos to help identify which decade it came from. Many salt and pepper figurines were made in Japan on a mass produced scale but the figurines that came from Germany had a reputation for quality. The design sketches were conceived by Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel and noticed by porcelain maker Franz Goebel in 1935. Since Sister Hummel had so many designs many of her works were produced long after her death. All conversions from sketches to ceramics were approved by Hummel herself and after her death in 1946 the rights to approve was transferred to Artistic Board of the Sisters of Siessen which honored Hummel’s design philosophy.
Kreiss Ceramics
According to the Kreiss website, Murray Kreiss founded the Kreiss Company in San Diego in 1939, which was originally known as the Murray Kreiss & Sons Company. By starting this venture, Murray was leaving a successful career with a national silver company to start his own importing business.
In the booming post-war years, importing novelties from Japan in the 1940s was a growing field and the company was well-known for its somewhat bizarre figurines, which were widely available from the 1950s. Murray was one of the first U.S. businessmen to conduct business in that war-torn country, but his unique line set him apart.
Most famous for their “Psycho Ceramics” figurines, these wacky and freakishly irresistible whimsical characters are real conversation pieces, from beatniks to all kinds of weird creatures characterized by unusual facial expressions, including inebriated Santas too fat to fit down a chimney!
Kreiss was also famous for its cat, poodle and lady figurines, and napkin holders, cups, and salt & pepper shakers, as well as every kind of gift that would make the receiver shake their head and smile.
There have never been any foil or paper stickers used by Kreiss, but the company did use ink stamps on as many of its collectibles as possible. Look and you will find either one of two ink stamps, the earlier pieces stamped “Kreiss and Co.” and the later pieces will stamped “Kreiss Corp.”
Kreiss novelties that are most collectable include poodle dogs, oriental figurines and previously mentioned “Psycho” figurines of the 1960s and 70s. Psycho Ceramics were zany novelty ceramics manufactured in Japan between the 1960s and 1970s. They are what one might call “lovably ugly”. Kreiss also made Crazy Creatures, Elegant Heirs, Beatniks, Nudeniks and a variety of weirdo collectible figures, mugs, banks and ashtrays.
Kreiss is still in business today, dealing primarily in home furnishings, a business run by Murray’s grandson, Michael Kreiss, who renamed the business Kreiss Enterprises, with showrooms around the United States.
The ceramics portion of the original company ended in the 1960s, but these amazing creations live on in the hearts and homes of many people around the world.