Noritake mark on china

by Dr. Lori Verderame

In 1876, the Noritake firm was established by the Morimura Brothers in New York. The company was named for the village of Noritake which is a suburb of Nagoya, Japan.

History

By 1914, the company had produced a line of fine porcelain dinnerware for the export market. The company also traded china, curio and decorative items, and gifts. In the early years of the factory, from the late 1800s to about the time of the onset of World War I, Noritake dinnerware pieces were hand painted and decorated with gold.

What is China?

Noritake bottomChina is a combination of clay, kaolin, feldspar, and quartz. The mixture is molded into the desired form and numerous firings take place at high temperatures. China is white and translucent in color.

China and porcelain are two terms for basically the same thing. They are just called different things in different places. China references the country of origin. Porcelain derives from the Latin word for seashell (porcella) to describe the look of the ceramic. China and porcelain both describe a ceramic that is smooth and white. In America, china is the commonly used word for such ceramics. In Europe, porcelain is the preferred term. China and porcelain are known for their quality appearance, resistance to chipping and breakage, and strength.

Another type of china is bone china where calcified bone is used and firing temperatures are lower than with porcelain. Bone china is thinner and softer than porcelain. Bone ash, a white powdery substance, is the ingredient that provides the ceramic piece with a milky color of white. Bone china will not break as easily because the bone ash adds strength to the body of the object.

Noritake markNoritake chocolate sets, dinnerware sets, ashtrays, serving pieces, bowls, etc. are collectible. Vintage pieces command several hundreds of dollars for complete sets in good condition.

Get an online appraisal of your Noritake piece from Dr. Lori.