Please pay careful attention to my guide ratings! You'll notice the number of unhappy sellers that are attempting to trash my ratings because the information contained here calls attention to their shady business practices. Keep those negatives coming!

For those of you honest people, I hope that this information helps you and that you will give me that acknowledgement.

Becoming familiar with the look and feel of authentic pieces of Nippon will further assist you in making a good purchase decision. True Nippon pieces have a quality look and feel.  The porcelain should feel light and smooth. The only lumps and bumps you should feel would be from the application of slip enamel decoration, gilded slip and moriage. You should see depth in the handpainting. Beware of items that you see over and over again, on ebay and elsewhere. They are probably recently made, factory manufactured items that are sold in lots to importers. Just because the fake marks say "handpainted" does not mean they are.

Some "Real" Pieces to Compare to the Fakes

Notice the depth of the florals and the intricate slip and gild applications.

Look for a light, delicate feel and translucence. If they are truly "hand painted", no two items will be exactly the same. Look closely at the items.

Look for the depth of the painting.

The more you examine and handle authentic Nippon pieces, the more confident you will become in spotting the good stuff. Good luck and Happy Hunting!

Lisa

Proud Member of the International Nippon Collectors Club.

Don't forget to see my Nippon Part 1 & Part II guides.