Japanese Makers | C20Ceramics

Oct 7

Noritake Australiana, Blue Wren & Golden Wattle c1920s

Early 20th Century Noritake design always captivates me with their bright, saturated colours.

Equally fascinating are the designs Noritake produced specifiably for the Australian market – previously I have posted about the charming “Kookaburra” design.

I recently came across a tea set in this design – “Blue Wren & Golden Wattle” which has the backstamp which was used in the late 1920s.

The blue wren has the same pink and blue hues used in one of the variations of the Kookaburra design and again features the golden wattle flower. As far as I can deduce – the blue wren design pre dates the Kookaburra design by about a decade.

Noritake Blue Wren – Golden Wattle Teapot

Noritake Blue Wren – Golden Wattle, Trio

Noritake Blue Wren – Golden Wattle, Milk Jug

Yamasan Japan, Large Ikebana Form

I recently came across this large, tri footed Ikebana vessel by Yamasan Japan. It is a very modernist and architectural looking piece with its sweeping lines and sweeping curves

Ikebana vessels by this maker I used to find frequently, but this is the first piece I have come across in about 5 years. (see my previous post in this maker HERE).

It’s also different from the textured glazes frequently seen by this maker as well – being a smooth satin, brown ochre colour with some nice details like the carved panels, and the contrasting clear light green colour on the inside.

Yamasan Japan, Ikebana Vessel c1960s

Mar 15

Modernist Noritake Vase

I came across this very smart modernist looking Noritake Japan vase recently. It is a very impressive piece, about 25cm tall, in a stylised “tree trunk” form popular in the 1950s and 1960s. It has a timeless colour scheme and pattern, but its mark indicates it was produced from around 1953.

This pattern was never named or assigned a pattern number, which was not unusual for this era, and I have been unable to find any other examples of either the shape or pattern on any other Nortiake pieces.

As with all Noritake of this era, the quality and finish is very high.