The “Made in Occupied Japan” mark was required on Japanese exports starting in February 1947. In August 1949 the requirement was altered and ceramic exports could be marked “Made in Occupied Japan,” “Occupied Japan,” “Made in Japan” or simply “Japan.” That means that identical pieces can be marked differently.
How to tell if something is made in Occupied Japan?
How do I know if my Japanese vase is valuable?
- Look for a mark on the bottom of the vase.
- Look at the composition of the glass.
- Look at the bottom of the vase.
- Look for an overmark, which is a stamp placed on the bottom of a vase over the original maker’s mark.
- Look for a NIPPON mark.
How to identify occupied Japan markings?
- Momoyama period (1573-1603)
- Edo period (1603-1867) roughly split into early, middle or late Edo. Sometimes the Genroku era (1688-1703) when popular culture flourishes is distinguished.
- Meiji (1868-1913)
- Taisho (1913-1926)
- Showa (1926-1988), where "early Showa" is often used to cover the Showa reign before 1945, and
- Heisei (1988-today)
What are made in Occupied Japan collectibles?
To personalize an item:
- Open the listing page.
- Choose the options you’d like for the order. This will differ depending on what options are available for the item.
- Under “Add your personalization,” the text box will tell you what the seller needs to know. Fill out the requested information.
- Click “Buy it now” or “Add to cart” and proceed to checkout.
Is paper currency from Occupied Japan of any value?
When Japan invaded Burma it issued its own occupation currency denominated in Rupees. This is an ACTUAL GENUINE WW2 10 RUPEE BANKNOTE from Japan-Occupied Burma! The note, which may vary from the sample in the scan, remains in good collectible condition but may have pinholes, edge splits, aging (chiefly in the margin) and/or light folds.
Are items marked Made in Occupied Japan valuable?
These pieces usually were marked “Made in Occupied Japan,” “Made in Japan” or simply “Japan.” The products--including souvenirs, lamps, dinnerware and toys--eventually became collectible. From what we've seen in dealer catalogues, however, their value is relatively low, with few items approaching the $50 level.
What does the stamp Made in Occupied Japan mean?
Made in Occupied Japan. Any pottery that is stamped with “Made in Occupied Japan” and can be authenticated to have been manufactured between the summer of 1945 and spring of 1952. Items include ashtrays, planters, and other knickknacks. Bisque. Bisque pottery, also known as biscuit ware.
Is pottery from occupied Japan valuable?
Dramatic price increases for Occupied Japan collectibles are not expected by most experts. The majority of ceramic items are valued between $6 and $100, and are expected to remain so. Most toys are priced higher--between $100 and $400--but also are expected to remain fairly stable.
How can you tell if something was Made in occupied Japan?
The writers at Our Pastimes note that you can identify items made in occupied Japan by examining them for the stamp. For the majority of objects, this stamp will be on the bottom. For example, occupied Japan plates would have the stamp on the part that sits on the table.
What year is Made in Occupied Japan?
“Occupied Japan” refers to the years 1945 through 1951 when western forces occupied Japan.
What's the difference between Made in Japan and Made in occupied Japan?
Not all products made in Japan between 1946 and April 1952 are marked "Made in Occupied Japan" or "Occupied Japan." Some pieces simply were marked "Japan" or "Made in Japan." However, collectors of Occupied Japan material insist that "Occupied" be found in the mark for an item to be considered a true Occupied Japan ...
How do you identify Japanese pottery marks?
Signatures are usually followed by a suffix, for example Sei, tsukuru or saku all meaning "made", or Ga, Dzu or Fude meaning "painted" or "drawn". Then there are place names, Satsuma, Kutani, Seto etc. To read these requires references such as a good Japanese/English dictionary such as Nelsons.
What kind of antiques do collectors usually look for in Japan?
Popular Japanese antiquesNetsuke | 根付 Some netsuke were made from ivory. ... Tsuba | 鍔 or 鐔 Tsuba – still attached to the sword. ... Kiseru | 煙管 Assorted kiseru | Photo by istock.com/ma-no. ... Porcelain | 陶磁器 (tojiki), 焼きもの (yakimono) or 陶芸 (togei) ... Kintsugi or Kintsukuroi | 金継ぎ or 金繕い
What figurines are worth money?
Which Antique Figurines Are Worth the Most Money?Early Meissen Figurines. ... Large Capodimonte Pieces. ... Dresden Lace Figurines. ... Rare Sevres Figurines. ... Figurines by Royal Nymphenburg.
What does Made in Japan mean?
That's when I started to pay close attention to those small product labels, in order to determine the product's country of origin. Made in Japan. Basically, the phrase “made in” means that the product was either entirely made or significantly transformed in that country.
When did Japan become occupied?
In February 1947 , the General Headquarters, administrative arm of the American occupying forces, ordered all products made for export to be marked “Occupied Japan” or “Made in Occupied Japan.”. World War II devasted the Japanese economy.
What was the Japanese economy during World War II?
World War II devasted the Japanese economy. The Japanese ceramic industry was one of the first to be revitalized. Using aid from the United States, Japanese ceramic manufacturers began producing ceramic knickknacks for sale to the occupying American soldiers.
Is "Occupied Japan" a mark?
Collectors of Occupied Japan pieces insist that “Occupied” be found in the mark in order for the piece to be considered a true Occupied Japan collectible. Not all products made in Japan between 1946 and April 1952 are marked “Occupied Japan.”. Some pieces simply were marked “Japan” or “Made in Japan.’. These designations were added ...
When were Japanese ceramics made?
Items marked “Made in Occupied Japan” were made between February 1947 and April 1952. After that, just the word “Japan” was used again. According to experts on 19th- and 20th-century Japanese ceramics, the color does not help date a mark. Red, green and black were used most years.
What is the Japanese word for Japan?
Beginning in 1921, U.S. Customs required country names to be in English, and the word “Japan” was used instead of “Nippon.”.
Made in Japan Ceramics - History
In 1921, the United States government decided that “Nippon” was a Japanese word and passed a law declaring that goods imported into the United States had to be marked with an English word.
Made in Japan Ceramics - Identification & Value
The mark was and is used on all forms of post-1921 ceramics from dinnerware to Geisha Girl wares, to Satsuma.
10 Most Valuable Made in Occupied Japan Figurines Online
NB: These prices aren’t fixed, as you’ll learn in the valuation section. They’re, however, the best compiled from reputable online stores like Etsy and eBay.
How to Identify Occupied Japan Figurines
Even though Made in Occupied Japan Figurines are affordable, some dubious people still make cheaper reproductions and copies. Whereas reproductions are exact replicas, Copies are stylistic imitations with slight changes.
What is the value of Made in Occupied Japan Figurines?
Made in Occupied Japan figurines aren’t worth much because they’re copies of original American and European designs. Unlike original producers like Hummel, Meissen, and Royal Doulton, they often used cheap materials, hence their low retail value.
Parting Words
Gene Florence’s book Occupied Japan Collectibles holds all the information you need from pricing to identification. You can identify a copy in these three easy steps;
Why did Japan have a strong demand for ceramics?
Due to trade difficulties with China by the end of the Chinese Ming dynasty, and an improved Japanese economy during the Momoyama period (1573-1615), a strong demand for Japanese ceramics resulted in a surge of creativity. Thousands of kilns developed their own regional style.
What dynasty made porcelain with Chinese marks?
Japanese, 19th century. Click here to see large picture. Arita - Imitating Chinese Ming dynasty Chenghua mark. Porcelain with marks imitating Chinese marks of the Ming period were made at the Arita kiln during the 19th century and possible both earlier and later.
Where are Arita porcelains made?
Arita porcelains - produced in the Saga prefecture of Kyushu . Kutani porcelains - produced in the prefecture of Ishikawa in the Hokuiku district of Honshu, the Japanese main island. On the whole Kutani porcelains are characterized by their elaborate picture decorations in thick gold, red, blue and some other colors.
What was the most popular porcelain in Europe?
During the 17th and early 18th century Japanese porcelain, largely imported by the Dutch East India Company (VOC), was very popular in Europe and competed successfully with the Chinese. Blue and white Arita porcelain was copied on tin glazed earthenware in many places in Europe, of which Dutch " Delft " is the most famous.
Where did Korean porcelain come from?
After the Japanese invasions of Korea in 1592 and 1598, a number of skilled Korean potters who had learned from the Chinese how to produce fine porcelain, were brought back to Japan. Some of these settled in Arita in northern Kyushu, where they discovered porcelain clay. One of the Korean porcelain makers was Ri Sampei. He is considered as the "father" of Japanese porcelain. The area became Japan's major center of porcelain production and its products were also exported from the port of Imari.
What was the tea ceremony?
The popularity of the tea ceremony from the 15th century fostered an aesthetic appreciation of ceramics, especially imported Chinese wares, which became valued as works of art. The strong demand for ceramics resulted in a surge of creativity during the Momoyama period (1573-1603), with thousands of kilns developing their own distinct regional characteristics. High-fired stoneware were central to this tradition.
What was the new Meiji government?
With the new Meiji government, the old feudal system was changed and many highly skilled potters found themselves out of work.#N#After many years of a strict regulation in the Edo period (1603-1868), a new Meiji government finally opened a door to the oversea trade. Traditionally trained artists and craft men, who had lost their feudal patrons, were welcomed to a new venture by the government and by entrepreneurs, to create new products attractive to the foreigners in America and Europe.#N#When Japan now opened up for foreign trade and trade agreements were signed with America, England, Holland, Russia and France. Yokohama became a center for much of the new trade. Businessmen and entrepreneurs from all over Japan flocked around the port and to set up shops.#N#Now, Japanese pottery and porcelain found new markets. The producers were inventive and could readily deliver anything the export market demanded. Their technique and skills were the traditional but the products were commercial, except a few true artisans, such as for example the Makuzu company.#N#The pottery and porcelain made in and around the Yokohama port were known as Yokohama-yaki, including "Yokohama Satsuma", to which for example the Hodota brand belongs.#N#These export products were made in small factories and workshops set up quickly, to meet foreign demands.