Noritake marks: dating Nippon, Japan and Occupied Japan backstamps

The country word on the base is the quickest date clue: NIPPON points to export porcelain from about 1891 to 1921, JAPAN or MADE IN JAPAN to 1921 or later, and OCCUPIED JAPAN to 1947–1952. Noritake's own marks then narrow the date, but Morimura's wreath mark is one of the most faked marks in porcelain.

By the Antique ID team · Updated 2026-10-13

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A short history behind the marks

Noritake's company history begins with trade, not a factory. In 1876 Ichizaemon Morimura set up the trading firm Morimura Gumi and sent his brother Toyo to New York to open an imported goods store, Morimura Brothers. In 1904 the group founded Nippon Toki Gomei Kaisha, the forerunner of today's Noritake Co., Limited. The company timeline records Japan's first Western-style dinner set in 1914, bulk tableware orders from the Larkin Company of the United States in 1915, a U.S. distributor, Noritake Co., Inc., in 1947, and the change of the parent company's name to Noritake Co., Limited only in 1981.

That history explains why marks on early pieces may mention Morimura or simply carry a wreath or leaf device, and why the word Noritake itself is not always present on older ware.

How to date the country mark

Section 6 of the U.S. Tariff Act of 1890 required, from 1 March 1891, that imported goods be marked in legible English words with their country of origin. Japanese exporters used Nippon, the Japanese name for Japan. The International Nippon Collectors Club dates the Nippon era from 1891 to 1921 and explains that a U.S. Treasury decision in 1921 ended it by requiring the name Japan. The Texas Historical Commission summarises the same change: from 1921, Nippon and Nihon branding had to become “Japan”.

The Occupied Japan window is narrower than the occupation itself. Japan was occupied from 1945, but the Mizuta Museum of Art at Josai International University notes that exports had to be labelled Made in Occupied Japan from when civilian trade resumed in 1947 until 1952. The Texas Historical Commission links the order to General MacArthur.

Morimura and Noritake marks of the Nippon era

The International Nippon Collectors Club identifies the main Morimura marks of the period as the Maple Leaf, used about 1891–1911 in green, blue or red, and the M in Wreath, used 1911–1921 in green, blue, red or gold. Morimura also used marks known to collectors as RC and Rising Sun. After 1921 the country word changed to Japan, while the company's own devices continued to evolve; Noritake-named backstamps are common on 20th-century dinnerware.

Many backstamps also include wording such as HAND PAINTED, a pattern name or a registration number. Note every element: dinnerware sets can be matched by pattern, and pattern names are usually more useful than the device itself for later pieces.

Fake Nippon marks and how to spot them

Because Nippon porcelain became collectible, reproductions with fake marks are common. The club's reproduction notes say fakers first copied Morimura marks because they were the most lucrative. Early copies were loose, but later ones came very close to the M in Wreath. U.S. Customs ruled the fake wreath mark counterfeit, after which importers shipped wares with easily removed paper labels. Other points from the club's guidance:

• Finish: fakes tend to have a dull finish and lack the variety of techniques of genuine pieces; blurred background effects can look dirty.
• Gold: genuine gilding is lustrous with a warm patina; fake gold is often brassy, harsh or poorly applied.
• Glaze and body: genuine late Maple Leaf, M in Wreath and RC pieces are bright white, thin, light and translucent, with an even, smooth glaze. Early Maple Leaf porcelain may be greyer.
• Techniques: the club had not found fakes attempting sophisticated work such as coralene, sharkskin or moriage.
• Common targets: a “Wildflower” design is a frequent fake, and doll backstamps are among the easiest to copy.

An unfamiliar mark is not automatically fake; the club points out that some genuine marks are rarely seen. Compare against documented examples before deciding.

What drives value

For Nippon-era pieces, quality of decoration matters most: elaborate techniques such as moriage and coralene, rich gold and fine painting attract collectors, while plainer wares are more common. Size, form, condition of gold and the presence of a documented genuine mark follow. For later Noritake dinnerware, the pattern, completeness of a set and condition drive interest.

Next steps

Photograph the backstamp straight on, then scan the piece with Antique ID for an identification and an estimated value. The estimate is a guide, not an appraisal; for a high-quality Nippon piece, ask a specialist to confirm the mark and decoration. For marks in general, see how to identify pottery marks.

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