"Noritake" China Dinnerware..."The Haviland of Japan" (from a 1918 newspaper advertisement) 

{HISTORY}

Chanfaire. A pretty name for a pretty porcelain pattern. Made in 1918 by famous porcelain maker, Noritake, this antique pair of porcelain cups and saucers feature decorated gold rims and pale yellow bands accented with gold scallops.

So cheerful and so very elegant, these cups and saucers have seen quite a bit of history since they debuted. Manufactured in the same year that the Spanish Flu raged and World War I ended, it's amazing to think what sort of conversations were being discussed over tea and coffee. 

Delicate and beautifully decorated by hand, the design around the rim is sometimes referred to as bell flowers, but they also look like bows. The yellow band is of the very palest shade of butter, combined with the bright white porcelain yellow and white is eternally fresh and classic., a winsome go with any arrangement that never goes out of style. 

It's always very fun to trace the history of vintage and antique Noritake because their backstamps and pottery marks have changed so much over the course of two centuries as the company evolved into a worldwide brand. This set features the laurel wreath mark with the M in the middle which stands for the Morimura Brothers who originally started the pottery in 1889. Back then it when it was simply known as Nippon - the name of the region where the dishes were made. 

Since those early days, artisans for Nippon (and then Noritake) have always focused on fine craftsmanship, gorgeous color arrangements, and exquisite designs. That attention to detail and level of commitment led Noritake to become one of the most celebrated and sought-after dishware brands in the world, and are still to this day, internationally recognized for quality and luxury. 

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

- Matching set of two cups and two saucers

- Chanfaire pattern

- Handpainted

- Each piece is stamped with the Noritake mark and the pattern name appears on both saucers and one of the cups

{CONDITION}

In beautiful antique condition. Neither pair contains any chips or cracks. One saucer contains some wear around the gold stripe towards the center of the plate. Both above and below the bellflower/bow design are gold stripes accented with raised gold dots. Some of the dots have worn off over time, but these are such tiny details you'd never notice at casual glance. They can only really be seen upon very close inspection with a magnifying glass. We zoomed in on a couple of photos so you could see these flaws, but again without that extra magnification, you'd never see that the dots had worn off. Please see photos.

{SIZE}

Each cup measures 3.75" inches (diameter) x 2" inches (height). Each saucer measures 5.5" inches (diameter). Together both sets weigh 14 oz. 

{FOR THE PORCELAIN COLLECTOR}

Find more vintage and antique porcelain here.