CHARM OF NORITAKE COTTAGE-WARE PORCELAIN

The history of Noritake started with the Morimura brothers, Baron Ichizaemon Morimura and his younger brother Yutaka Morimura who established a trading company Morimura-kumi in Ginza in 1876.

NORITAKE SUGAR & CREAMER

NORITAKE COTTAGE SCENE BOWL

Afterwards the Morimura Brothers in Yutaka’s destination city, New York, in 1878, which they used to trade Japanese china, porcelain and dolls. Morimura Brothers, established in New York in 1878, was the first imported goods shop to import Japanese antiques and porcelain.

This is certainly what was the start of Japanese-American trade. However, a few years later the stage was shifted from New York to Paris. Interest in the East was strong and at the Paris Exposition where Japanese culture attracted attention, the Morimura brothers were most fascinated in Western tableware.

Prior to the cottage-ware dinnerware lines, elaborate vases with bold floral designs and bold colors with gold accents were produced to capture the more affluent household. Afterwords Noritake had created many lines of dinnerware that have permeated world trade and have entered many a home through the nation. Such wares have become treasured by many and have gracefully adorned many a kitchen or dining room for over several generations.

A special line of colorful dinnerware was that of the Cottage Scenes. These scenes were tranquil and always gave the table a glow of charming invite to its guests. The scenes were partially transfer-printed and hand-painted and were often in hues of yellow, pink, blue and orange. Such wares became prevalent during 1925-1950. Such scenes became popular with American and Canadian folk at the time and today are often seen as decorative wares at the country cottage.