Q: I have a complete service for 12 of Nippon china dinnerware. The marks on the back include a blue maple leaf and "Hand Painted", but there is no pattern name. Apparently it is very unusual for a complete set of Nippon to exist. What do I do to find out the set's possible value?
A: First of all, for those who don't know, "Nippon" is simply the Japanese word for "Japan". From about 1890 through about 1920, Japanese wares made for export were marked with the word "Nippon", which simply designated the country of origin. Later, collectors of Japanese porcelain adopted the term "Nippon" to describe pieces from this period.
The value of any piece of Nippon is primarily based upon the decoration. The unusual, ornate, brightly colored or elaborately decorated pieces are much more valuable than the more common, plainer, simpler, subtle pieces. The plainest pieces are sometimes worth almost nothing.
The same is generally true of Nippon sets of china. Therefore, what your pattern looks like may be of the utmost importance in determining the value. Sets of Nippon china are not particularly rare, but since most sets have missing and/or damaged pieces, a complete set would be a little difficult to find. Most of these sets however, with some exceptions, are not in big demand. A large set of plain Nippon china would usually sell for only one to five hundred dollars in an estate sale or auction.
Whatever the decoration, the primary value of your set may be in the china matching industry, not in the Nippon collectors market. Most Nippon collectors don't seem to be very interested in buying sets of Nippon china. China matching services do not buy or sell china with a Nippon mark at a premium price. The number of people who collect a specific pattern determines the value. Naturally, patterns in high demand sell for much more than patterns in low demand.
Since your pattern is not marked with a pattern name, you may wish to send a photo of the front and back to edish to see if we can identify the name of your pattern. A pattern name will be helpful if you wish to buy more pieces or sell your set.
The bad news in general is that many old Nippon patterns never had a pattern name, or the reference materials are so limited at this time that identification is impossible.
The good news for you is that the Blue Maple Leaf mark is an early mark for Noritake. Since Noritake is one of the largest Japanese porcelain manufacturers, there are several books available to help identify old Noritake Nippon patterns.
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