Pottery mark on cute vintage flower ceramic - backstamp is flower or a clover, with 2 squares around it (looks a bit like a picture frame) and the word “Japan” under

by Deb.
(Klamath Falls, OR)

Pottery mark on cute vintage flower ceramic - backstamp is flower or a clover, with 2 squares around it (looks a bit like a picture frame) and the word “Japan” under:- I’m sure that I’ve seen this mark before, but of course, now that I have a piece with it, I haven’t been able to find this mark anywhere! Could be a flower or a clover, with 2 squares around it (looks a bit like a picture frame) and the word “Japan” under it. I’ve also seen these simply marked Japan with the ubiquitous “N in a C” mark.

I’m guessing the date of it is maybe late 50’s or 60’s, just because there were so many cheesy little Japanese exports like this at that time. This odd little creature comes in four different colors, and four different positions.

I don’t think she’s intended as a wall plaque, because there’s no means of hanging her up. She might be one of the many, many silly personal ashtrays of the time, but I think that’s unlikely because there’s no cigarette notch.

There were a million little knick-knacks, but these are designed to lay flat, so I don’t think they fall in that category, either. Most people identify her as a teabag holder, but there’s really been no hard evidence that that was the intended purpose (Legend such as “I will hold the teabag”, box label, etc.)

I’d like to unravel this puzzle a bit, if I can, and the first - perhaps the only - thing I can think to do is try to identify the mark.

Can you help?

Deb

==============================

Reply by Peter (admin)

Hi Deb

What a cute vintage piece. Yes,looks like a vintage post-war Japan style nik-nak, but these things are lush, aren't they.

Like you, I feel I've seen the mark before, but can't place it. Hopefully someone will know and soon enough post.

Have you scrolled through Gotheborg's site in his Japan section? Worth a try if not.

Regards

Peter (admin)