{HISTORY}

Hopeful signs of Spring come to the table in an artistic flurry of blooming branches and symbolic history with this set of vintage porcelain berry bowls.

Made by Noritake during the slim window between 1947 and 1949, this trio features Noritake's Maruki backstamp, also known as the Kamaru mark, which symbolizes overcoming difficulties. 

Just the right sentiment following the end of WWII and the rebuilding years that followed, Noritake began exporting dishes to America again in 1946 after they experienced a long dishware manufacturing pause while making grinding wheels to support the war effort.  

Boasting a cheerful color palette featuring imagery that welcomes a new season and a fresh start, we can imagine that this Noritake pattern was a delight to everyone's eyes from its makers all the way to its collectors when it first debuted. An artistic display of blooming branches in shades of white, rust, and red accented with pale teal, slate grey, and mustard yellow, this color arrangement is a beauty for springtime celebrations.

Berry bowls are a great size for serving a zillion different foods, as well as being handy helpers in the kitchen as prep bowls during meal-making. Whether you are serving yogurt with fresh fruit on the breakfast table or making an all-day chicken curry loaded with mounds of spices, these bowls make cooking and serving an extra delight with their pretty appearance and helpful nature. 

Because the backstamp on these bowls includes the words Nippon Toki Kaisha, many people assume that that is the pattern name of this pretty flowering vignette. That is not correct, though. Nippon Toki Kaisha is the name of the pottery that produces Noritake. We searched high and low for this pattern's name, but we couldn't find an exact reference, so it remains a bit of a mystery for now. One thing we do know for certain, though, when it comes to this pattern, is how much we love the contemporary feel of this set. It looks great with all types of design aesthetics from mid-century modern all the way up to present-day farmhouse decor. Proof that hope and resiliency are always in style, no matter the decade.

 

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

• Matching set of three berry bowls
• Colors include rust, tomato red, pale yellow, dijon mustard, sage, emerald, slate grey, pale grey, and pale teal
• Each bowl is stamped on bottom with maker's mark

 

{CONDITION}

In gorgeous vintage condition, these bowls contain no chips, cracks, spots, or stains.  The floral designs are crisp and clear on all bowls, and the grey strip around each rim is contains no wear or rub marks. Please see photos. 

 

{SIZE}

Each bowl measures just over 5.5" inches (diameter) and weighs 6 oz. 

{FOR THE COLLECTOR}

Find more pieces in this beautiful pattern here.