We proudly offer this wonderful pre 1921 Nippon chocolate set, featuring original hand painted Morimura Bros imported items, representing a bulbous top chocolate pot and (6) matching cups and saucers. All are finished in gorgeous orange Lotus & Prunus medallions on rich Cobalt grounds, and accented with lovely gilt highlights. This spectacular set carries the proper pre 1921, green under-glaze M-in-Wreath Hand Painted Morimura Bros stamp (Van Patten #47), and is a valuable service. The entire set weighs 4# and the chocolate pot measures 7.25 x 5 x 7.75 inches tall. Don't miss out on this unique set. xxxxxxxxxxxx. In 1876, Ichizaemon Morimura VI and his brother Toyo founded Morimura Gumi at Ginza 4-chome, Tokyo. It was a trading company dedicated to exporting traditional Japanese products, as Ichizaemon Morimura VI had been a visionary and supporter of modernization for Japan. On March 10, Toyo sailed from Yokohama for America. In November, Toyo, Sato Momotaro and Date Chushichi established the retail store "Hinode Shokai" in a partnership at 6th Street, New York. Within the year Yutaka had opened a Morimura Bros. retail store in New York. From this earliest period, Morimura sought to adapt quality Japanese art and skilled craft to the needs, designs and market appeal of the American consumer. Morimura did not produce products during this period but exported the creations of others. In 1890, the McKinley Tariff Act was passed by Congress that required imports to the United States to be marked with their country of origin. Nippon was commonly used to identify Japan in part because it is a Japanese word for the country. Nippon signifies only the country of origin and implies no other information. Early Morimura imports would likely have been marked thus, as would have other imports from Japan. From 1878 to 1884 the Morimura brothers operated a china decorating facility of their own, but not a pottery. In Noritake Collectibles, Lou Ann Donahue reports that from 1884 until 1890 they utilized decorating factories all over Japan. In 1891, the Morimura Bros. joined a number of other Japanese firms, and began potting & selling hand painted Nippon porcelain for 30 years.

All excellent condition, very minor wear; 1 saucer has small rim chip