Modern Japanese Pottery and Porcelain Marks (窯印): Noritake

Noritake was established mainly as a manufacturer of Japanese porcelain for export during the Meiji period. The first factory was established in Nagoya in 1904. It was called Nippon Toki Kabushiki Kaisha.

Names under the Noritake Company umbrella are (or were) Morimura, Noritake, Okura China, Rose China, Nippon Toki Kaisha, Royal Crockery.

There are a lot of sites out there with Noritake marks but usually only the exported variety. I read that there are over 400 trademark designs for Noritake! I do not think anyone has posted them all.

http://noritakechina.com/noritake-history

http://www.noritakecollectorsguild.info/bstamps/index.html

NIPPON

This is the Nippon maple leaf mark 1891-1915

Additional reading

https://www.academia.edu/44171874/Old_Noritake_China_bearing_the_Maple_Leaf_Nippon_OCCO_Mark_What_We_Have_Learned?email_work_card=thumbnail

THE OLD R.C. MARK 1911-1921

*see "The Collector's Encyclopedia of Nippon Porcelain" Third Series by Joan F. Van Patten pg 82

Sugar shaker

THE MARUKI BLUE NIPPON MARK (1912~)

* see Van Patten pg 94. Van Patten's NORITAKE book p. 96 gives a 1906-1908 range

This mark was used from 1946-1953

MORIMURA

The Morimura Nippon green mark c.1911

Morimura mark circa 1921
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Noritake "M" Mark stand for Morimura. It was later changed to Noritake

Noritake "M" marked china service for 12 @1930's

1931-1941

Delano

This mark was issued in 1931

From Early Noritake by Aimee Neff Alden:

See page 100 #MM-31. This mark was reserved for acid-etched gold lustreware, sub- contracted to decorators specializing in this technique.

Thank you to YF for sharing this mark!

Noritake Red "M" Mark 1921-1941

Patent # 42200 C. 1922-1923

The green Noritake "M" mark with "Made in Japan" 1921-1941

Noritake Green "M" MARK on luster ware bowl c.1920's

This also has the green mark. Noritake Art Deco.

Although there are no records as to the change of the green to the red mark it seems to occur around the time of the indroduction of luster ware in the 1920's (see Stitt pg 171).

The green Noritake "M" Hand Painted MIJ mark is said to have been used from 1918 but because of the McKinley Tarrif Act change in September 1921 changing the labeling from Nippon to Japan the 1918 dating is problematic. In fact Noritake company has no records but indicated it may be as early as 1918. It is my belief that it was after September of 1921. Pieces with this particular mark are quite original and creative in their styling.

According to "Collector's Encyclopedia of Early Noritake" by Aimee Neff Alden pg 12, this mark is dated c. 1915-1919. However, I doubt this dating as Japan and MIJ were not required by law until 1921. Nippon was being used since the passing of the McKinley Tarrif act in 1890.

*Noritake Collector's Gulid dates this c. 1935

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This "M" mark is 1921-1941

Oxford, No dates are given in Van Patten's "The Collector's Encyclopedia of Noritake" (1984), but there are many backstamps similar to this one which seem to range from the 1920's to early 1930's.

According to the "Old Noritake" Japanese site, this basic mark (minus the pattern name) was used from 1921-1941.

c. 1933

pattern Laureate C. 1928

Rodesta pattern

The Cherry Blossom Mark

Used 1924-1935 according to http://www.old-noritake-antique.com/stamp.html

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After the war the company produced "Rose China" or "R.C. China" for a short time as they needed time for quality to reach appropriate standards to carry the Noritake name. See Japanese Ceramics of the Last 100 Years by Stitt for additional history.

NITTO NORITAKE

1930's

Thanks to Sandra Simon for this mark

1945-1957

Japanese Domestic Market

MADE IN OCCUPIED JAPAN

Pattern # 4768
The M mark with Made in Occupied Japan

Although it is said that the M mark was retired in 1941. Apparently it was revived during the occupation for a time.

I apologize for the blurry mark. I snapped it in a charity shop and did not check it until I got back home. It is an interesting mark none the less.

Got a better picture:

NORITAKE NIPPON TOKI KAISHA

NIPPON TOKI KAISHA (early mark). 1924-1935

RC Mark

Nippon Toki Kaisha c. 1946

NORITAKE JAPAN "N"

This mark was used from 1951-1966

Nippon Toki Kaisha 1955~

"Noble" pattern #2600 footed tea cups and saucers

Nippon Toki Kaisha Mark 1954-1966 "Lawrence" (domestic)
*Van Patten NORITAKE book says from 1953~

See "Collector's Guide to Made in Japan Ceramics" by Carole Bess White

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NORITAKE STREAM SIDE pattern #4497 (1995- )