Carolyn Martin Collection
Carolyn started collecting J.Henke hand-painted china in about 1985 when she inherited several pieces from an aunt of her husband, Bernice Martin. Bernice had owned an entire set of Forget-Me-Not pattern, but as she began to break up housekeeping, she had given most of it away. She retained only a few extra pieces and upon her death, these pieces were divided among family members. Carolyn became interested in the origin of the pieces and began to learn a little Henke history. In 2012, she contacted the Kalamazoo Museum and asked that they, with her help, locate a major collector of Henke China and put together a display. Instead, the Museum Coordinator asked Carolyn if they might display her pieces for six months using their small guest display case. They also published an article about J.Henke in what was then called MuseOn magazine (now called Museo) using their archived information and the Kalamazoo Library reference materials, and a discussion with Henke’s daughter, with photos of Carolyn’s collection. Until this website, that article was the only source of information on the internet about J. Henke and his hand-painted China.
If something was purchased from out of Michigan, where it came from might be told just to show how the pieces have traveled. Most of the plates cm2 through cm16 came from Texas.
Currently, Carolyn’s collection consists of about 35 pieces, arranged here generally from largest to smallest, with exception for pieces added later. The collection is not for sale (NFS). All pieces are stamped on the bottom with a Bavarian company name or just “BAVARIA” unless noted. “W” indicates a Weisley trademark stamp on bottom. All pieces are signed “JHENKE" unless noted:
cm1 Hot Chocolate Pot 9” tall w/lid. Forget-Me-Not
From Bernice Martin NFS
cm2 Plate 9” Plums W Ebay purchase NFS
cm3 Plate 9” Violets W Ebay purchase NFS
cm4 Plate 9” White Wild Rose W
Ebay purchase NFS
cm5 Plate 9” White Wild Rose 2 W
Ebay purchase NFS
cm6 Plate 9” Pink and White Wild Rose W
Ebay purchase NFS
cm8 Plate 8.25” Pink Rose W
Ebay purchase NFS
cm7 Plate 8.25” Forget-Me-Not W
Ebay purchase NFS
Notice that the above two plates, while possibly part of one set, are very different in composition.
cm9 Plate 8.25” White Wild Rose W
Ebay purchase NFS
cm10 Plate 8.25” White & Pink Wild Rose,1
W Ebay purchase NFS
cm11 Plate 8.25” White & Pink Wild Rose,2
W Ebay purchase NFS
Notice that the above two plates, while possibly part of one set, are very different in composition.
cm12 Plate 8.25” Yellow Rose W
Ebay purchase NFS
cm13 Plate 6.25” Pink & Blue Morning Glories,1
W Ebay purchase NFS
cm14 Plate 6.25” Pink & Blue Morning Glories,2
W Ebay purchase NFS
Notice that the above two plates, while possibly part of one set, are very different in composition.
cm15 Plate 6.25” Pansies W Ebay purchase NFS
cm16 Plate 6.25” Violets W Ebay purchase NFS
cm17 Ewer 8” Mixed Roses No company stamp, but stamped “HAND-PAINTED BY JHENKE” on bottom. Ebay purchase NFS
cm18 Plate 6” Yellow Wild Rose or Buttercups Antique Store (I paid $2) NFS
cm19 Plate 6” Forget-Me-Nots
From Bernice Martin NFS
cm20 Cheese Plate 5.75” Forget-Me-Nots From Bernice Martin NFS
cm21 Vase 4.75” “LEO”—on left side of design Violets W Ebay purchase NFS [Oct. 2016] Ruby Lane has this piece listed on the internet, dated as 1920-30, priced at $59 plus shipping. In the description, they include information about the Weisley China Co. and say that the company employed several competent artists, that their “most prominent” artist was Hencke [sic], but they do not make the connection between Henke and Leo.
cm22 Rose bowl 4.5” Forget-Me-Nots W
San Diego Antique Shop (I paid $14) NFS
cm23 and cm24 Rose bowl 4.5” Violets W
Ebay purchase NFS (same info for both)
cm25 Sugar and Creamer 3.25” and 2.25” Forget-Me-Nots Sugar bowl from Bernice Martin, creamer was a gift (2012, result of museum article) NFS
cm26 Jelly Dish 3” to top of lid, separate piece. Bowl/saucer are one piece. Lid not signed, cup: JHENKE. Forget-Me-Not Gift, 2012, result of museum article. (Below is the bottom of this dish “J.HENKE’S HAND PAINTED KALAMAZOO MICH” and a company stamp from Bavaria) NFS
cm27 Vase 2.75” “LEO” Violets W Ebay purchase NFS
cm28 Cradle 2.25” Forget-Me-Nots
Unstamped Gift (2012, result of
museum article) NFS
cm29 Salt & Pepper 2.25” Forget-Me-Nots Unstamped
Gift (2012, result of museum article) NFS
cm30 Toothpick Holder 2.25” “JM” (but partly
rubbed off) Pink & White Wild Roses Gift
from JM. NFS
cm31 Tea Set: Sugar 3.25” Pot 5.25” Creamer 2.5”
all three are signed “LEO” Violets W
Ebay purchase, from Georgia NFS
cm32 Ewer 8" Violets W NFS
Ebay purchase, from Missouri
Marilyn Cowell Collection
1mc Platter robins and flowers 11.5" with handles
at bottom: "Merry Christmas 1959" NFS
2mc Bowl with slotted sides 11.75" with handles Mixed fruit
Dated on underneath: "Feb.6-1954" NFS
3mc Vases 8" Wild Roses No maker stamp on bottom but inscribed by Adele "To Helen and Erwin From Adele and August June 6, 1935--1960" on both vases. NFS
4mc Relish Dish or jewelry tray 8.25" Violets NFS
5mc Cream and Sugar set, 3.25" and 4" Pink roses. Stamped "Germany" on bottom. NFS
6mc Cheese Plate 6" Forget-Me-Nots
No Bavaria stamp, but stamped:
"Hand Painted J. Henke" NFS
7mc Bowl 4.75 Violets No Bavaria stamp, but stamped
"Josef Henke Hand Painted in a circle with a star in the middle as shown below. NFS
8mc Pin dish 5.25" x 3.5" "JH" W On back: "Lily of the Valley
Flower for May" NFS
9mc Cradle 2.5" high "JH" Violets No company stamp, but stamped "Hand Painted J. Henke" NFS
10mc Vases, painted roses as a set with handles opposite, 2.5" "JH" on each, but one on left and other on right of painting. No company stamp, but stamped as pictured on bottom of each: NFS
cm35 Mini Ewer 2.75" Violets "R" W Note: The "R" is just visible under the handle in this photo, but I believe this must be a Henke piece. Any opinions? Or information? NFS Ebay purchase, from Ohio
cm34 Ewer 6.25" FGMN "LEO" W NFS Ebay purchase, from Texas
cm33 Ewer 6.25" Pansies "JH" W
NFS Ebay purchase, from Texas
Josef and Hedwig Henke were Marilyn's mother's aunt and uncle, and Marilyn remembers visiting them in their home with her mother. Most of the pieces in this collection passed to Marilyn after her mother's death. The sugar, creamer (5mc) and the fruit tray (2mc) were given to Marilyn as a wedding gift from Josef and Hedwig. The two vases were a gift her mother, Adele, gave to her friends for their twenty fifth wedding anniversary. When the friends passed away, the vases were given back to Adele. Josef and Hedwig had a daughter named Helen, but that was not the same Helen as named on the vases.
All are signed "JHENKE" unless otherwise stated, and stamped Bavaria or a German company on back unless stated. "W" signifies the Weisley Company. This collection is currently NOT FOR SALE (NFS), however, reasonable offers, giving thought to the age, beautiful condition, and rarity of these pieces, would be considered. Email offers to current owner: <dianejnj@yahoo.com>
The six pieces below were sent to me by Lisa Neal (Seattle). The pieces came from her grandmother's collection.
cm36 and 37 Coasters 4 1/2" diameter Pink Roses, FGMN "JHENKE" NFS Holes on back ridge for hanging. No logo or info on back.
cm38 Candy Dish 5" diameter "JHENKE" blank on back
cm39 Small platter 9 1/4" diameter FGMN "JHENKE" back: "MADE IN GERMANY / V"
cm40 Pitcher 6 3/4" to top of handle Pink Roses "JHENKE" .Back: "Bareuther WALDSASSEN BAVARIA Germany"
cm41 Vase 9 3/4" high Pink and Yellow Roses "JHENKE" Bottom: Crown logo with Alka Kunsk Bavaria" and "Made in Western Germany".
