Brand guide: Old Noritake

Old Noritake refers to porcelain produced by Japan's Noritake (formerly Morimura Gumi) during the late 19th to early 20th centuries. The origins of Noritake trace back to 1876, when Ichizaemon Morimura founded Morimura Gumi in Japan. In 1878, his younger brother, Toyo Morimura, established Morimura Brothers in New York, initiating a business exporting Japanese products to the United States.

At the time, elegant and ornate Victorian designs were in vogue across Europe, and these styles were becoming popular in the American market. In 1883, the Morimura Ichizaemon and Toyo visited the Paris World's Fair, where they were inspired by the exquisite porcelain from European manufacturers like Meissen. This experience led Morimura brothers to specialize in porcelain sales. In 1891, they opened a manufacturing plant in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, marking the start of full-scale porcelain production aimed at overseas exports.

Initially, they imitated European designs, but this effort eventually gave rise to what would later be known as "Old Noritake"—a unique fusion of Western-style porcelain with Japanese artistry. Each piece, though industrially produced, featured handcrafted decorations, often adorned with gold accents, merging traditional Japanese aesthetics with cutting-edge manufacturing techniques. These pieces were highly regarded for their craftsmanship and beauty.
Today, more than a century later, these works are treasured as "Old Noritake" and remain beloved by collectors around the world. Old Noritake pieces are often marked with "Noritake" or an "M" backstamp, with variations depending on the year of production and the factory.