While cleaning out an old rectory, we found a set of china which we are hoping to auction. It is stamped "Meito China Japan" inside a gold-rimmed blue crest with a crown at the top. The pattern is rimmed with gold, has a light green edge, gold rope, then a cream band, followed by green and gold ring around the center of the plate. The center of the plate is white and plain. On the cream band are five floral sprays with blue, pink, and purple flowers, and green and gold leaves. In between each floral spray is a floral edge design which interrupts the gold rope and green edge. This design has gold leaves and scrollwork and pink flowers/green leaves on a black background.
We know nothing about the history of the china except what I have found on the internet. Information I have read would date the china between WWI and WWII. I do not know if this is true. The parish dates back to the late 1800s so the China could certainly be that old.
Please share any information you think would be helpful. Thanks!
Re: Meito China Pattern ME123
Any pottery from Japan marked "Japan" will post date 1921, pieces made before that date are usually marked "NIPPON", the Japanese word for the country's name. Sets like this do tend to date between the wars, but in todays market have very limited value. They were made in huge numbers for export, of which most of them appear to have survived the last 80 years or so intact. At auction sets like this right now are hard to sell, often going for less than $200.00.