“Made in Japan” or “Japan” is an inscription or back stamp on china, figurines and ceramics that denotes quality and is associated with products that are are highly collectible. Historically, higher quality status of collectible items ‘made in Japan’ has proven stiff competition to global industry and has only increased since World War II, when stronger quality organizational processes were put in place.

So, we are not surprised that collectible value for items marked “Made in Japan” or other known backstamps from Japan, continues to rise.

The “Nippon Era” 1891-1921, the Art Nouveau Years. The first backstamped Japanese collectible ceramics were the hand painted Nippon pieces as result of the 1890 McKinley Tariff Act in America, requiring all imported goods to be marked with their country of origin.

‘Made in Japan’ ceramics is a big, big world of it’s own! These include all the figural and decorated objects exported to America mainly from 1921 to 1941. There was, of course, an interim of interrupted trade and markings of ‘Made in Japan’ after the US declared war on Japan in 1941, which basically resumed again in 1952.

The beginning of the ‘Made in Japan’ era ran simultaneous with the ‘Noritake Era’ of the Art Deco years (1921-1941). The biggest difference was the superior glaze quality of Noritake. They were considered the top of the line of export ceramic ware.

Noritake china saucer (NP-49 #88), circa 1921-1941

If you are a collector of Noritake, we can recommend: The Collectors Encyclopedia of Occupied Japan – Volumes 2,4,5

Also: “The Collector’s Encyclopedia of Noritake”. We offer the 1st Edition 1984, with values updated from 1997.

From 1947-1952 was the “Occupied Japan” Era. Following World War II, a huge amount of ceramics was produced and exported to America from Japan. The Potsdam agreement permitted the Allied Powers to decide what Japan could manufacture during the Occupation. Ceramics passed the criteria. Most of these pieces were marked “Occupied Japan.” The Collector’s Encyclopedia of Occupied Japan five-volume series by Gene Florence is an excellent reference source on this topic. We offer a set that includes 2nd, 4th and 5th of this series.

To read more about what was made in Japan, The Collector’s Guide to Made in Japan Ceramics Books I and II by Carole Bess White, is a great resource!

For replacements or to complete a set, our Noritake cup and saucer in Dawn pattern is available!

Beautiful quality ceramics and ‘Japan’ marked somewhere on the item, just go together.  [Grandma's Treasures Online offers several pretty items "Made in Japan."]