At a flea market, I came across a marvelous frog who is contemplating life. It bore the name Arnel’s, which I thought was the name of the artist, but after looking around online, I found out it was the name of a mold making company! It was started in 1953 in Beaverton Oregon. Arnel’s made high quality ceramic molds for hobbyists to use for slip casting. It also sold unfinished or bisque finished items to craft stores, art classes or even to other companies to glaze and sell as finished items.
This takes me back. In the 70s and 80s, my sister went to her weekly ceramics class and enjoyed being creative by glazing already molded figurines and serving pieces. When mom died, all of us who were clearing our childhood home had no idea where mommy put the creche set which my sister specifically made for her. We eventually unearthed it, and it went to the sister who thought it was beautiful and would cherish it forever. I have also taken pottery classes, but it was working with clay and building things by hand or on the wheel, a very different type of ceramic.
In memory of those days, here are some completed Arnel’s molded items.
Large Victorian Style Pitcher
This elegant white pitcher has a Victorian style to it and would make a handsome holder for garden blooms. It is priced at $35 in BeadEleganceJewelry on Etsy.
Ceramic Christmas Tree
My oh my, these ceramic trees are in much demand! We have seen bidding wars on online sales platforms for them. This 18″ high white opalescent tree really shows off the colorful lights. This Arnel’s tree will soon be in great demand, $240 from the Etsy shop restlessbonesretro.
Large Unpainted Toad
Why not paint this 10” long toad your own way. It was cast in TeresasCeramics shop from an old Arnel’s mold to spark your creativity. Would’t it be great in your indoor garden? It is available in her Etsy shop for $28.
Mushroom Carousel Canister Set
Are you old enough to remember when all sorts of ceramic mushrooms were popular? Almost every house had a set in the 70s, and Arnel’s offered great mushroom pieces that could be finished in pottery class. I read online that their lids always had a knob that consisting of three mushrooms, the easiest way to tell you have an Arnel’s item in the wild if it’s not on the base. This beautifully finished three dimensional set is offered in owlandtrigvintage shop for $125 on Etsy.
Thinker Frog Figurine
This is the flea market thinker frog treasure that started me on my quest to learn more about Arnel’s molds. He’s deep in thought and is in my Etsy shop for $99.50.
Arnel’s ceased operations over twenty years ago, but their molds and finished products live on. I hope you will keep an eye out for these pieces and other objects that came from them.
7 comments
I love the Arnel Christmas tree my Mom made back in the ’70s. Thanks for the history lesson, Mary Ellen.
Thank you for this information and solving a mystery for me. My mother made a watering can and a 1890’s inspired ladies’ boot. Both had the Arnels name on the bottom along with my mother’s initials and the year she made them (1966).
Thank you for your story. So that proves your mom went to a great pottery class that used Arnels molds.
Glad those items are in your home.
Mary Ellen
I am looking for the mold for a little girl gingerbread. The mold number is 612A.
I have the little boy and I have both adult molds which are mold number 612.
Do you have mold number 612A that can be purchased?
If so, how much and how do I order it?
Thanks.
Cindy Neumann
Thank you for the history and images. My grandparents owned many Arnel’s molds simply for their personal ceramic fun. Those molds must have been very affordable in the 1960’s-70’s! Our extended family “made” beer steins amany while clearly enjoying the beverage inside. The artistry of the paint work is comically awful with many irreverent alterations to the original design. Ah, so happy to know the origin of this family fun.
I just picked up a pair of masks at a thrift shop with the name “arnel’s” (all lower case) on the back. Very meso-American/Aztec-esque looking. Gorgeous!
Thanks about to sell my grandmother’s lipstick holder made by ayners in my vintage booth . I have had it since the early 80’s . It is time for others to enjoy.
It is avocado colored and currently has an old Mary Kay classic pink lipstick lid stuck in it