The Beach & Arthur Paper Company was a paper novelty company engaged in the manufacture of napkins, tablecloths, plates and cups in a wide range of design and color during the span 1929 -1941. Beach & Arthur began producing matched sets of decorated paper tableware, the first in the United States to do so, in 1929 in Pennsylvania. The company operated a factory in Indianapolis, Indiana and another in Modena, Pennsylvania on or before September 1, 1937. The style of their fine artwork was very distinctive. The graphics were extremely well defined and symmetrically woven throughout the patterns of their designs. The disposable nature of their products, primarily associated with the food industry, combined with a brief 12 year production run makes finding high-quality examples difficult.
Excerpts from our long-established personal vintage Halloween collection representing the high watermark of condition and rarity.
We periodically add photographs as we maintain our archive.
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- Five coved luncheon plates, USA, Beach & Arthur, Inc., of Indianapolis, Indiana, 1930s, four differing vignettes separated by smiling-faced moons, 8″ square, Scarecrow pattern.
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- Set of four handled cups with coordinating coved saucers, USA, Beach & Arthur, Inc., of Indianapolis, Indiana, (incised name), 1930s, 2.25″ h x 3.25″ diameter. Saucer: 6″ diameter. Scarecrow pattern.
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- Factory Sealed New Halloween Table Cloth Luncheon Set with 4 Napkins to Match, USA, Beach & Arthur, Inc., of Indianapolis, Indiana, 1930s, 36 x 36 inches (opened), Scarecrow pattern.
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- Luncheon napkin, USA, Beach & Arthur, Inc., of Indianapolis, Indiana, 1930s, lightly embossed leaf design, 13.5” square (opened), Scarecrow pattern.
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- Luncheon napkin, USA, Beach & Arthur, Inc., of Indianapolis, Indiana, 1930s, lightly embossed leaf design, 13.5” square (opened), Scarecrow pattern.
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- Coved luncheon and dessert plate, USA, Beach & Arthur, Inc., of Indianapolis, Indiana, early 1930s, four differing vignettes separated by iconic Halloween characters, luncheon: 8″ square, dessert: 6″ square. Witch & Black Cat pattern.
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- Coved luncheon plate, USA, Beach & Arthur, Inc., of Indianapolis, Indiana, 1931-1932, four differing vignettes separated by identical geometric designs, 9″ square, Owl pattern.
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- This trio includes a 9 inch dinner plate. Beach & Arthur steadfastly labeled 8 inch plates luncheon or dinner and 6 inch plates salad or dessert. This 9 inch example is relatively uncommon. It was produced for a limited number of tableware designs.
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- Big Halloween Table Cloth, USA, Beach & Arthur, Inc., of Indianapolis, Indiana, 1931-1932, 40 x 60 inches (opened), Owl pattern.
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- Luncheon napkin, USA, Beach & Arthur, Inc., of Indianapolis, Indiana, 1931-1932, 13.5” square (opened), Owl pattern.
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- Luncheon napkin, USA, Beach & Arthur, Inc., 1930s, 13.5” square (opened). Interchangeable with Owl, Witch & Black Cat and Scarecrow patterns. Lightly embossed border.
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- Coved luncheon plate, USA, Beach & Arthur, Inc., of Indianapolis, Indiana, mid-1930s, four differing vignettes separated by alternating black cat and owl, 8″ square, Pretty Witch pattern.
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- Beverage cups, USA, Beach & Arthur, Inc., of Indianapolis, Indiana, (incised name), mid-1930s, 6 oz., 3.75” h x 3” diameter, Pretty Witch pattern.
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- Complete set of eight nut cups, USA, Beach & Arthur, Inc., of Indianapolis, Indiana, (incised name), mid-1930s, 2 oz., 1.5” h x 2” diameter, Pretty Witch pattern. This was sold with stock number 68H.
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- Complete set of eight factory sealed nut cups, USA, Beach & Arthur, Inc., of Indianapolis, Indiana, (incised name), mid-1930s, 2 oz., 1.5” h x 2” diameter, Pretty Witch pattern. This was sold with stock number 68H.
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- Big Halloween Table Cloth, USA, Beach & Arthur, Inc., of Indianapolis, Indiana, mid-1930s, 40 x 60 inches (opened), Pretty Witch pattern. The table cloth design includes various motifs interchangeable with the owl pattern and conversely, creating increased profitability for the store owner by offering numerous coordinating possibilities for their customers.
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- New Halloween Table Cloth Luncheon Set with 4 Napkins to Match, USA, Beach & Arthur, Inc., of Indianapolis, Indiana, (stated on table cloth), mid-1930s, 36 x 36 inches (opened), Pretty Witch pattern. Table cloth embossed ‘Beach & Arthur, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana’. Napkins not shown.
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- Luncheon napkin, USA, Beach & Arthur, Inc., of Indianapolis, Indiana, mid-1930s, 13.5” square (opened), Pretty Witch pattern.
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- Coved luncheon plate, USA, Beach & Arthur, Inc. of Indianapolis, Indiana, 1937, four differing vignettes separated by black cats, made for one season only, 8″ square, design title: ‘Masquerade’. This was sold with stock number HP85.
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- Luncheon napkin, USA, Beach & Arthur, Inc., of Indianapolis, Indiana, 1937, made for one season only, 13.5” square (opened), design title: ‘Masquerade’. This was sold with stock number HN5.
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- Coved luncheon plate, USA, Beach & Arthur, Inc., of Indianapolis, Indiana, 1937-1938, made for two seasons only, 8″ square, design title: ‘Scarecrow’. This was sold with stock number HP84.
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- Big Halloween Table Cloth, USA, Beach & Arthur, Inc., of Indianapolis, Indiana, (stated on table cloth) 1937-1938, made for two seasons only, 54 x 72 inches (opened), design title: ‘Scarecrow’. This was sold with stock number MT4. Table cloth embossed ‘Beach & Arthur, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana’.
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- New Halloween Table Cloth Luncheon Set with 4 Napkins to Match, USA, Beach & Arthur, Inc., of Indianapolis, Indiana, (stated on table cloth), 1937-1938, made for two seasons only, 36 x 36 inches (opened), design title: ‘Scarecrow’. This was sold with stock number HL54. Table cloth embossed ‘Beach & Arthur, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana’. Napkins not shown.
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- Luncheon napkin, USA, Beach & Arthur, Inc., of Indianapolis, Indiana, 1937-1938, 13.5” square (opened), made for two seasons only, design title: ‘Scarecrow’. This was sold with stock number HN4.
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- Luncheon napkin, USA, Beach & Arthur, Inc., of Indianapolis, Indiana, 1937-1938, 13.5” square (opened), made for two seasons only, design title: ‘Scarecrow’. This was sold with stock number HSN4.
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- Set of six nut cups, USA, Beach & Arthur Inc., of Indianapolis, Indiana, (incised name), 1938-1939, made for two seasons only, 2 oz., 1.5” h x 2” diameter, design title: ‘Cat and Jack-O-Lantern’. This was sold with stock number HNC7.
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- Luncheon Napkin, USA, Beach & Arthur Inc., of Indianapolis, Indiana, 1938-1939, made for two seasons only, 13.25” square (opened), design title: ‘Cat and Jack-O-Lantern’. This was sold with stock number HSN7.
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- Luncheon Napkin, USA, Beach & Arthur Inc., of Indianapolis, Indiana, 1938-1939, made for two seasons only, 13.25” square (opened), design title: ‘Cat and Jack-O-Lantern’. This was sold with stock number HN7.
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- Die-Cut Luncheon Napkin, USA, Beach & Arthur Inc., of Indianapolis, Indiana, 1938-1939, made for two seasons only, 13.25” square (opened), design title: ‘Cat and Jack-O-Lantern’. This was sold with stock number HDC7.
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- Coved luncheon and dessert plate, USA, Beach & Arthur Inc., of Indianapolis, Indiana, 1939, made for a single season only, luncheon: 8″ square, dessert: 6” square, design title: ‘Halloween Cats on Teeter Totter’. This artwork was surely designed for children’s Hallowe’en parties. It’s devoid of intricate graphic detail denoting earlier Beach & Arthur output signaling the metamorphosis into quintessential 40’s style and the transitioning of Halloween from an adult festivity. The plate is a typical square. No longer fancy, it is reminiscent of future Beach Products, Inc. output. Not only was the USA in the midst of wartime but Beach & Arthur was also on the brink of dissolution. This was sold with stock number HP69 and HP89 respectively.
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- Nut cup, USA, Beach & Arthur Inc., of Indianapolis, Indiana, (incised name), 1939, made for a single season only, 2 oz., 1.5” h x 2” diameter, design title: ‘Halloween Cats on Teeter Totter’. This was sold with stock number HNC9.
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- Luncheon napkin, USA, Beach & Arthur Inc., of Indianapolis, Indiana, 1939, made for a single season only, 13.5” square (opened), design title: ‘Halloween Cats on Teeter Totter’. This was sold with stock number HSN9.
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- Coved luncheon plate, USA, Beach & Arthur, Inc., of Indianapolis, Indiana, 1940-1941, 8″ square, Witch & Black Cat pattern. I suspect this 1940s design was one of the last to bear the Beach & Arthur company logo given their dissolution in 1941.
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- Beverage cups, USA, Beach & Arthur, Inc., of Indianapolis, Indiana, (incised name), 1940-1941, 6 oz., 3.75” h x 3” diameter, Witch & Black Cat pattern. I suspect this 1940s design was one of the last to bear the Beach & Arthur company logo given their dissolution in 1941.
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- Nut cups, USA, Beach & Arthur, Inc., of Indianapolis, Indiana, (incised name), 1940-1941, 2 oz., 1.5” h x 2” diameter, Witch & Black Cat pattern. I suspect this 1940s design was one of the last to bear the Beach & Arthur company logo given their dissolution in 1941.
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- Luncheon napkin, USA, Beach & Arthur, Inc., of Indianapolis, Indiana, 1940-1941, 13.5” square (opened), Witch & Black Cat pattern. I suspect this 1940s design was one of the last to bear the Beach & Arthur company logo given their dissolution in 1941.
