WHO IS OTAGIRI?
Otagiri is a name many collectors recognize. "Otagiri" is actually a trademark. The company name is Otagiri Mercantile Company, Inc. or OMC. (Otagiri, the company, and OMC are used interchangeably in the following information.) The company was an importer and a distributor of porcelain, stoneware, and giftware in the San Francisco area for more than 46 years. The products were made in Japan and were imported for distribution and sold to high end department stores and gift shops. Otagiri products were handcrafted and handpainted.
The company hired talented artisans to design its products. Among the artists who designed products for Otagiri are a few you may recognize: Kurt R. Kress, Bob Harrison, Angela Ackerman, Wendy Morgan, Curtis-Swan, Tracy Flickinger, Tom Taylor, Linda Pickens, Mary Hughes, and Mary Ann Baker. There are many more, but these names are the ones I have personally come across. OMC products were designed for Gigson Greetings and San Francisco Music Box, as well as many others.
There is very little verifiable information about Otagiri. The best source of information I have found is the corporate records of Enesco, the company that purchased the Otagiri Mercantile Co. (OMC) in 1994 and the very limited corporate records of OMC. The Enesco Company History describes OMC as "a veteran of the giftware industry for 47 years."
The first corporate records belong to Otagiri Mercantile Company, Inc., a California Corporation with offices in San Francisco. According to information available, OMC filed with the trademark in December 1977. The trademark was "Otagiri." The trademark was registered February, 1980. A trademark for "Hand Crafted Otagiri Original" label was registered in February 1979. Trademark information indicates this was first used in 1970. On August 26, 1980 OMC registered its gold OMC label. The patent information indicates the trademark was first used in 1961.
In September, 1994 Enesco's Worldwide Giftware Group paid $3.5 millon for the businesse assets and inventories, as well as its trademarks. OMC was identified as a privately held giftware company located in San Francisco, CA. Enesco indicated in its "acquisitions" information that "the Otagiri product line will be sold" and accounts serviced from Enesco Giftware in Elk Grove Village, IL.
Be sure to view the Collectibles Gallery for examples of Otagiri products.
The company hired talented artisans to design its products. Among the artists who designed products for Otagiri are a few you may recognize: Kurt R. Kress, Bob Harrison, Angela Ackerman, Wendy Morgan, Curtis-Swan, Tracy Flickinger, Tom Taylor, Linda Pickens, Mary Hughes, and Mary Ann Baker. There are many more, but these names are the ones I have personally come across. OMC products were designed for Gigson Greetings and San Francisco Music Box, as well as many others.
There is very little verifiable information about Otagiri. The best source of information I have found is the corporate records of Enesco, the company that purchased the Otagiri Mercantile Co. (OMC) in 1994 and the very limited corporate records of OMC. The Enesco Company History describes OMC as "a veteran of the giftware industry for 47 years."
The first corporate records belong to Otagiri Mercantile Company, Inc., a California Corporation with offices in San Francisco. According to information available, OMC filed with the trademark in December 1977. The trademark was "Otagiri." The trademark was registered February, 1980. A trademark for "Hand Crafted Otagiri Original" label was registered in February 1979. Trademark information indicates this was first used in 1970. On August 26, 1980 OMC registered its gold OMC label. The patent information indicates the trademark was first used in 1961.
In September, 1994 Enesco's Worldwide Giftware Group paid $3.5 millon for the businesse assets and inventories, as well as its trademarks. OMC was identified as a privately held giftware company located in San Francisco, CA. Enesco indicated in its "acquisitions" information that "the Otagiri product line will be sold" and accounts serviced from Enesco Giftware in Elk Grove Village, IL.
Be sure to view the Collectibles Gallery for examples of Otagiri products.