Q: Hi, Folks at Kovels Antique Trader,

I have a piece of ceramic/pottery that appears to be hand-painted with roses and has quite a bit of gold leaf. I’ve been unable to identify the mark on the back and was wondering if you could help. Attached is a picture of the mark and a picture of the piece. There are no other marks. The piece is 10 1/4 inches by 8 inches. Any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

A: We’re not surprised you had difficulty identifying this mark. It is an old and vague mark usually identified as Nippon. However, if you search for Nippon backstamps, this one will not pop up.

The mark on your beautiful tray is a Japanese porcelain mark, specifically that of the Nippon Toki Kaisha (Noritake Company). Nippon Toki Kaisha is translated as “Japan Pottery Company.” The cherry blossom included in the mark was a common motif used by various Japanese porcelain manufacturers during the early 20th century; it symbolizes beauty and the transient nature of life.

This particular mark with the words “Hand Painted” and the cherry blossom indicates porcelain made for export, primarily to the United States, during the early 20th century. Before 1921, the word “Nippon” (the Japanese word for Japan) was common; after 1921, the word “Japan” or “Made in Japan” was required on items meant for export to the U.S.

When I first learned about Nippon and Noritake, it seemed they were one and then two separate companies until I did some research. The following timeline may help untangle the mystery.

In 1876, the Morimura Gumi company began producing pottery. In 1891, it was renamed Morimura Brothers. This company became the Nippon Toki Kaisha company in 1904, and a new factory was built in Noritake, which created Nippon Toki wares. Most of their early products carried one of the many “Nippon” back stamps, which indicated the country of origin on products meant for the Western market. The best examples of these exports were seen between 1891 and 1921, carrying the “Nippon-era” backstamp.

Your tray, an early 20th-century example of Japanese workmanship, could sell for $60 to $75.

Do you have a question for Collector’s Gallery? Send your questions and photos via e-mail to ATNews@aimmedia.com. Please include as much pertinent information about your item as possible, including size, condition, history, and anything else that might help identify and value your item.