This page on CS makers marks is based on personal experience (ebay searches, correspondence with other collectors, etc.) and a measly personal collection of around 10 pieces from this company. While we wait for possibly two publications on the history of CS I can begin to address the topic here.

From the information I have gathered it is difficult at this to point to determine a clear progression or evolution in development or time based on these marks — thus, the progression below is subject to rearrangement. Pieces with quite different marks appear identical in design and execution. Alternatively, different pieces with identical marks vary widely in quality of design and detail of execution. With those caveats, here is a preliminary proposed evolution of Craftsman Studios — Craftsmen Inc. makers marks based partially on the level of information in the stamp, general design, and gestalt, as exemplified by a total of fourteen different marks on three groups of products:

1. Eight different stamped marks on copper/metal products
2. Two paper labels on copper products
3. One paper label on a copper picture frame with image
4. One paper label on glass products
5. One one painted mark on ceramics
6. One unknown lithographed mark which was likely only on gift boxes in New York.

It is likely that more marks will surface. CS also marketed lamps with an Affiliated Craftsmen Studios Mark.

The description  of the marks below are not completely in numeric order, but by materials as follows:

1. Copper/Metal Products
2. Picture Frame & Image
3. Glass Products
4. Ceramic Products
5. Lamps & Other Novelties

1. Copper/Metal Products

Mark # 1. Unknown Hand Illumination on Gift Box
Glenn Griffin has gleaned, from what I assume to be, his New York CS catalogue and/or period advertisements that CS gift boxes were hand illuminated. Perhaps one will surface at some point and I will post it here when that time comes.

Mark # 2. CS Combined
What can be said with relative certainly is that the combined CS mark is the earliest known mark. Pieces with this mark generally have the greatest detail in execution, most hand hammering and chasing, and possibly the most unique patinas and addition of extra colours added to chased portions. Bookends, desk sets, tall candlesticks are among the common types found. Some examples of these have patinas and hand-hammering and chasing that rivals the well-known makers. This is particularly true for the multi-coloured patinas on bookends and desk sets.

Note: This mark is commonly mistaken for the work of Carl Sorenson, thus artificially raising the prices of CS marked items on occasion on eBay!

Mark # 3. Craftsman Studios and Los Angeles in the Anvil
Mark three is a simplified version of an Anvil with Craftsman Studios impressed inside. There is no reference to Hand Made or Laguna Beach. This one now answers the question to where the company moved: Los Angeles. Also included in another image of the same stamp from another piece where Los Angeles is blurred.

I’ve seen this mark once on a relatively poorly executed pitcher and another time on an absolutely exquisitely hammered and patina’d trapezoidal (side view) round (top view) ink well.

OK, now this is where things get interesting – this exact mark was found alongside the mark of Old Mission Koppercraft, a hammered copper company that operated out of San Fransciso! Old Mission Koppercraft pieces often sell at premium prices on auction. Even Barbara Streisand has one of these lamps in her A&C collection when she was an active collector. See associated images of the lamp and marks.

Mark # 4. Craftsman Studios Hand Made At Laguna Beach, Calif.

The fourth mark is Craftsman Studios Hand At Laguna Beach, Calif. mark. This mark has the same information as Mark#3, but is comparatively more stylized and therefore surmised to be the earlier version (or it could just be a variant from the exact same period!).

Pieces with this mark often had the origin of the copper stamped somewhere on the bottom. The operation was in Laguna Beach, California, apparently an artistic commune type place in the teens and twenties.

All manner of pieces with this mark show up including low candlesticks, trays of all shapes and sizes, bowls and vases of all sizes and shapes, but no desk sets(?).

Mark # 5. Craftsman Studios Hand Made At Laguna Beach, Calif.
The fifth possible mark is Craftsman Studios Hand At Laguna Beach, Calif. mark. This mark has the same information as Mark#2, but is comparatively less stylized, with the Calif. moved to a lower line. Is it later or just a variant from the exact same period?

Pieces with this mark often had the origin of the copper stamped somewhere on the bottom.

All manner of pieces with this mark including low candlesticks, trays of all shapes and sizes, bowls and vases of all sizes and shapes, but no desk sets(?).

Mark #6. The Craftsman Studios, Laguna Beach CA
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I’ve only seen one but have heard of others.

Does this order make sense? Can any other information be added to the mark descriptions? Are there other mark variations that I’ve missed? Can the individual(s) writing books/articles on Craftsman Studios-Craftsmen Inc. comment on this?

Mark # 7. Craftsman Studios Hand Made.
The seventh mark is similar to Mark #5, but without Laguna Beach, Calif. Did Craftsman Studios move manufacturing outside of Laguna Beach, or add another facility outside of Laguna Beach to increase production and hence have to remove reference to that place? In fact, this stamp could very well be placed between the Los Angeles and Laguna Beach locations but I will leave it here for now.

All manner of products were produced with this mark. Most items have a comparatively reduced quality of hammering and without any real chasing. Some forms even appear to be almost 100% die stamped. However, there are exceptions, such as the No. 951 17 inch ‘Daisy’ tray. See Flikr set atwww.flickr.com/photos/67689005 @N00/sets/72157616301358624/

Mark # 8. Laguna Craftsmen Paper Label
Here’s an odd one: Laguna Craftsmen paper label on hammered copper platter.

Mark # 12. Craftsmen Inc.
The 12th mark is Craftsmen Inc. Hand Made (no Laguna Beach) with an anvil and in a new font. Why the change from Craftsman to Craftsmen? Does this signify a transition from a single owner/operator to multiple owner/operators? Re the loss of Laguna Beach, was the manufacturing facility now somewhere other than Laguna Beach? What we can ascertain is that in 1929 longtime CS employee Robert Leftwich purchased CS; it may be at this time that “man” replaced by “men” in Craftsmen and Studios was replaced by Inc.

All manner of products were produced with this mark. Most items have a comparatively reduced quality of hammering and without any real chasing. Some forms even appear almost 100% die stamped. However, there are exceptions, such as the No. 951 Daisy tray. See Flikr set atwww.flickr.com/photos/67689005 @N00/sets/72157616301358624/

Mark #14. Craftsman Co. outside of Anvil
Mark 14 is with a completely different font (sort of a late 1800’s type set), with Hand Made outside of the Anvil, and without reference to Laguna Beach. This came from a very simply hand-chased little-hammered box.

Given that at least two former CS employees left to form their own companies, and likely became competitors of CS, perhaps the mark was changed once again. As we know, Harry MacIntosh joined CS in 1929 and left sometime around WWII to found Vermont Copper Crafters, Harry McIntosh, was former worker at Craftsmen Inc. who left to form the VCC with his wife. Many VCC items bear strong resemblance to later CS pieces. P.R. Gregori started at the CS factory at the end of WWII. He left shortly after in 1946 and with his brother Fred, formed Gregorian Copper. While Gregorian pieces bear some resemblance to late CS pieces, the workmanship is very simple. Please see the Other page for further information on these two companies.

I am uncertain what items were marked with this other than the box, but perhaps pitchers, candlesticks, vases, etc.

Mark # 14. Craftsman Studios on a paper label

Mark 14 has Craftsman Studios printed in black on an oval paper label. The example I have from the bottom of one of those scrunched and folded bowls that Craftsman Studios made all manner of forms of only has a partial label. There is no apparent model number on the bowl bottom. I would really like to get a better example of this label if anyone has one!

I’ve only seen this mark/label once, but there must be dozens of examples of this.

2. Picture Frame and Image

Mark #11. Craftsman Studios Inc, Los Angeles, Laguna Beach

Mark number 11 is a paper label found affixed to the back of a hammered copper frame framing a copy of the “Blue Boy”.

3. Glass Products

Mark #10. Craftsman Studios, Laguna Beach, Los Angeles
This mark is in the form of a shiny foil label found on a set of glass coasters.

4. Ceramic Products

Mark #9. Craftsman Studio, Laguna Beach, LA

Mark #9 is in the form of painted script on the bottom of a ceramic pot! I have only seen one example of this.

5. Lamps & Other Novelties

A few ceramic/pottery type lamps have shown up on eBay recently with the label, “Affiliated Craftsmen Studios”, which I suspect is

Image TBA

Any insight or comments on these ideas would be greatly appreciated!