I love my Noritake teacup! I bought it a couple years ago for a tablescape competition (you can read about the most recent one here,) along with the rest of two place settings. But today we’ll concentrate on the cup. So as usual, we’ll start with the original Instagram post.
Teacup Tuesday 24 Sep 2019
Does this happen to you – you’re sitting there thinking something, then like a second later you realize you’ve thought of 6 things in a row and ended up somewhere completely other? That’s what happened with today’s Teacup Tuesday! I actually took these photos last fall when it was just starting to cool off. I thought “This is good tea weather.” Then “Maybe I should take my tea by the fire” then, then, then, and ended up at “I’ll write a letter at the beat up old secretary desk just like they used to do in black & white movies.” And here we are! If you’d like more info on this lovely cup, – and the beat up old secretary – sashay on over to the blog and get all the details. Just click the link in my profile or go to MANTELandTABLE.com. Happy Tuesday Everyone!
Noritake Teacup Tidbits
So if you didn’t get the idea from my Instagram post above, I’ll tell you that I really love old black and white movies! I’m especially fascinated with the work environments of the women who were in business back then.
Of course there’s no color, but I always imagine the desks to be this rich dark brown. And just as beat up as this old secretary desk I have! I love to see the women in the movies sipping tea at their desks – maybe in something like our Noritake teacup.
They take dictation and file their notes in little cubbyholes just like these.
I saw one movie where they had a fireplace in the office, and I guess that’s what got me started in this direction! In any case, it’s wonderful to be by a cozy fire, writing letters, and sipping tea out of my lovely Noritake teacup.
Manufacturer’s Info
While I do love digging up history about teacups with mysterious markings, I don’t mind having the info at my fingertips either. This is a current pattern by Noritake, one of the big names in fine china. It’s called Austin Platinum, which is easy to tell, as it’s written right there on the bottom!
As far as china potteries go, Noritake is a relative newcomer. The oldest roots go back to 1876 with an import firm in New York run by the Morimura Brothers. Over the years, the company name changed, and their sales focus also changed. And in 1904, several members of the firm started a pottery in Noritake, Japan.
However, it took them ten years to come up with dinnerware they were ready to export. Their older pieces were stamped “Nippon” as that’s the country they were from, and also part of the company name at that point. (I was really surprised to find out they didn’t get to officially use the name Noritake until 1981.) In 1939 they branched out into industrial products, and now they even make circuit board parts as well as fine china! More about Noritake HERE.
Noritake Teacup ~ Behind the Scenes
I had so much fun with this one! My first thought was that I wanted to be like the movie women, with my tea and paper and wax stamp. But that seemed a to make the photo a bit crowded.
I got a bit whimsical with the candlestick – nixed that.
Then I tried just my paper and pen, and that was fine. And I loved the contrast of the white cup with the dark wood. I liked that the old silver bud vase picked up the silver around the edges of the cup and saucer. And the juxtaposition of new and old really appealed to me too.
And here’s a bigger view of the whole setup. Look at our Noritake teacup resting there, just ready to help some working woman get through her day. Or help a modern woman be cozy at home!
Teacup Shopping
If you love teacups as much as I do and want to start or add to your collection, Click HERE for the Shopping Page. Then scroll down and click on the picture of the teacup.
And remember, a portion of anything you buy from MANTELandTABLE.com goes to Habitat for Humanity and Proud Ground. With our purchases, we get to help people build homes for their own mantels and tables!
Have a Lovely Teacup Tuesday!
I always look forward to Teacup Tuesday! Love seeing the adventures, and learning about all of these beautiful teacups. Thanks for sharing.
We have a lot in common. I have a beautiful collection of tea cups too. I also have Noritake abd bought my set for a fantastic price because the pattern was being discontinued.
I’m a huge fan of old black and white movies. I love seeing the decor, woodwork, etc.
Cindy
Ooh we DO have a lot in common! So fun that you have Noritake too – I just love some of their early patterns. Have you ever seen the old B&W movie Man Wanted? It’s the one I had in mind when I was thinking about how women worked in the old days! 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by and following – I’m heading over to Cloches and Lavender now! See you soon!
Hi Chas – We might have to make you a ‘Teacup Tuesday Champion’ tee shirt one day, you’re such a great fan! 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by! See you soon!
Hi Barbara!
I posted once about my Father-in-law getting a private tour of the Noritake manufacturing plant when he lived in Japan on an extended engineers visit with his firm. I treasure the teacup he gave me years later that was once my husband’s Aunt’s, who we lost right before we were married.
Antique Nippon is one of my favorites – used to collect it and just have a few teacups left now. It is so delicate and for show, not use in my humble opinion.
I like your moody pics. I took a whole bunch last year to use in a pinch this year – and when my computer crashed I lost ALL of them. Thousands of pics. I cannot even think about it. Ugh. We did a thorough back up but I had them in a place I thought was right – and hubs didn’t know so THEY weren’t backed up properly. So sad.
I did a teacup post today, stop by and visit when you get the chance. Hugs.
Oh Michele – that’s so awful that you lost your photos – how heartbreaking that must have been! I actually remember the story of your Aunt’s Noritake – that’s so sweet, and I bet the tour was a blast! Yes some of those old thin teacups would break with a hard look. I don’t have too many that are that delicate, but the ones I do have stay on the shelf. I break more glass washing it than anything else!
I read your teacup post – it was wonderful. I’m so glad you stopped by, and hope your fall is going ok so far! Take care over there!
What a beautiful desk and your teacup looks perfect. I would get all kinds of work done in that setting 🙂
Thanks Denise! I try to get things done, but usually end up daydreaming – but that’s an activity too, right?! 🙂 Happy Wednesday my friend!
Thank you for Teacup Tuesdays!
You’ve inspired me to dig out my teacup collection and I now use a different one every day for my first-thing-in-the-morning double espresso, Caffeine and beauty combined!
Oh I’m so glad you like it Ann! And what a great idea – a perfect way to use your cups! Here’s to many more beautiful caffeine-filled mornings! 🙂