Identification by name Check under or behind the figurine for the Made in Occupied Japan mark. You’ll see a trademark “T” in a circle. Made in Occupied Japan figurines made pre-1921 have Nippon labeled on them while post-1921 products have Japan.
Full Answer
What are occupied Japan collectibles?
Collector interest in Occupied Japan materials began in the late 1960s. In addition to ceramics, many other collectibles items such as dolls, lighters and other metal objects, and toys were made during the Occupied Japan period. The 1980s-1990s was the Golden Age for Occupied Japan collectibles.
What is the difference between made in Occupied Japan figurines and copies?
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.
Are all products made in Japan marked “occupied Japan”?
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 to a manufacturer’s mark or artisan signature. In sets and services, only one piece may be marked “Occupied Japan.”
What does made in Occupied Japan mean?
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. The Japanese ceramic industry was one of the first to be revitalized.
Are items marked 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.
How do you recognize 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 does it mean when a figurine says 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.
Is porcelain 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.
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 ...
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 year is Made in Occupied Japan?
"Occupied Japan" (OJ) is a term used for the time period from 1945 (after World War II) through April 25, 1952; it was during this time that the Allies "occupied" Japan. You will also see items marked "Occupied Germany" - both of which are generally an insult to these countries.
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.
10 Most Valuable Occupied Japan Figurines: Price Guide
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.
A Short History of Import Markings and Dating of Japanese Ceramics
Pre 1891- Items imported to the U.S. did not have to be marked with the country of their origin. Most Japanese ceramics were not stamped with any backstamp or they were marked with the Artist's or Manufacture's name in Japanese.
What Are Made in Occupied Japan Collectibles? - Reference.com
Made in Occupied Japan collectibles include porcelain items, toys, pottery and other items that people created after World War II when Americans occupied Japan. The majority of the items are European ceramic copies and inexpensive novelties that people could purchase from dime stores. The purpose of these items at the time was for export.
Are items made in Japan valuable? - FindAnyAnswer.com
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.
How to Identify Japanese Pottery Porcelain Marks | Hunker
Unless you're familiar with the Japanese language, identifying Japanese pottery and porcelain marks can be a daunting task. Hidden within the kanji-- the characters -- on the bottom of the piece you will typically find the production region, a specific kiln location, a potter's name, and sometimes a separate decorator's identity.But, at times only generic terms were recorded, and tracking down ...
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 ...
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 is collecting items made in Occupied Japan so interesting?
The limits are set because the time frame for the manufactured goods was fixed. Furthermore, the identification of the goods was very rigidly controlled, leaving no doubt as to the authenticity of the collectibles.
What toys were made during the occupation period?
There were huge numbers of toys made during the occupation period, from the very simple, dime-store type such as whistles, card games and rattles, right up to the finely made wind-up automata. It is of course the wind-up toys that have become the most collectible and now command higher prices, especially if they come with the original box. Dolls sets and tea sets were also very popular.