Nippon china first appeared outside Japan in the late 1800s after the US and Japan began to trade with each other. Americans loved china from Japan (known then as Nippon)  A Japanese trader, Ichizaemon Morimura, seized the moment, first exporting china made by other companies to the US, then starting his own factory in the village of Noritake making items designed for export markets. The era of "Nippon" china ended in 1921 when US regulations were changed to require the words Made in Japan instead of just Nippon.

Unique appeal 

Nippon was hand painted porcelain, so each piece -- though it may follow a general pattern --  is unique, which adds to the attraction for collectors. The most sought-after Nippon often has "moriage"  -- raised areas where extra ceramic paste was laid on the item. In better pieces extensive use is often made of "beading" --  tiny dots of moriage or enamel used to highight borders and shapes, and often gilded to create a rich, glittering effect.

Why So Strange?

The scenes and images on Nippon can seem slightly odd to Western eyes, but remember these were items made exclusively for export and many Japanese artists had never seen the scenes they were depicting. For many collectors, this adds extra charm and interest to Nippon items.

Fakes

There are some Nippon fakes on the market, but they have been easier to avoid since US customs clamped down on dishonest use of the Morimura "M" mark on imports. The International Nippon Collectors' Club (find it by doing a Google search) has excellent pictures of common fakes on its web site.

Back Home

Interestingly, some of the most enthusiastic collectors of export Nippon are now the Japanese themselves, despite the fact that it was mostly made for foreign consumption.

Did this guide help you? If so, please click the "Yes" button below and help keep it alive.