Pottery Mark Query - Hand-Painted 'Made in Japan' Tea Set

by Pat
(Warwick, RI)

Pottery Mark Query - Hand-Painted 'Made in Japan' Tea Set:- I have a tea set that was my grandmothers. My mom gave the set to me after she died because when I was little I loved it and would stare at it in the china closet she had. I am just wondering if there is any value to the tea set.

Thank You,

Pat

========================================

reply by Peter (admin) below - just scroll down...

HOW I MADE MONEY FROM BITS & BOBS OF OLD CHINA .....more

Reply by Peter (admin)

To:- Pottery Mark Query - Hand-Painted 'Made in Japan' Tea Set

Hi Pat

Nice story about your feelings about this set as a child and how it was in your Gran's cupboard. Thanks for sharing. This is just the type of human story I like with these submissions.

I am sure this set has just as much sentimental value as monetary, but like anyone, you are curious about the monetary value.

I don't do valuations myself as this is an expert area, but I can point you in the right direction either to get a broad idea of the type of value by researching in the right places, or alternatively (for people in more of a hurry) to get a Japanese vintage china expert to have a look.

It would have been great to see a nice shot of your tea set along with the mark photo. Remember, the objective of this website is to act as a free public record for all to benefit from (no membership fees here).

It is the visitors individual submissions (user generated content) which drives this forward in terms of content.


Now, back to your tea set. Generally speaking, the place to go online to researching Japanese pottery marks is Gotheborg.com - Made in Japan Marks. Myself, I often looks on Gotheborg for marks.

Your mark rang a bell with me when I first looked at it and sure enough, when I looked on Gotheborg, your mark was very much in the style of marks by a company called Tashiro Shoten Ltd, Nagoya, Japan. Tashiro Shoten Ltd was a porcelain store in Yokohama which was around in the pre-war period and there seems to be records up to 1954 when something happened. The word "Shoten" is the Japanese word for shops selling wares from its own kilns.

I would carry on your research from this point.

In your case, assume the items are made by Tashiro Shoten Ltd (although there are quirky differences between your mark and the Elephant marks shown on Gotheborg - the dye looks the same, but the Elephant and 'made in Japan' device has been strangely altered on yours with certain details missing and other lines added in, the addition of the words 'hand painted', and an 'M' instead of 'N' in the word 'IN'). Have a look yourself and you will see what I mean.

Hope you enjoy your Gran's tea set. Good luck with your further research.

Hope this helps.

Best regards,

Peter (admin)

p.s. The following page is a 'must see' if you are researching fine china - for value and identification:-

Researching the identity and value of antique and vintage fine china.

Please post comments below which you think might be helpful……