Well, just when we think winter is coming to an end, old Mother Nature reminds us that we live in Iowa and she still has a few tricks up her sleeve. This morning we woke up to 5 inches of snow. The sidewalk in front of the store is clean (oh, my aching back!), and we are ready to give you a BIG warm welcome. Come on in and shop with us!
~ Linda
Store News
Kazzie the Wonder Dog has sniffed out these currently running Special Discounts:
Dealer #17 10% off all Occupied Japan Items
Dealer #22 15% off all Trivets & Dolls
Dealer #26 15% off all items
Dealer #27 20% off all books; 10% off everything else
Dealer #60 20% off all items
Discounts may be discontinued at the discretion of the dealers. Please take advantage of them while you can.
The visual tour section has been recently updated. Please check it out.
Nippon Porcelain
Nippon porcelain was manufactured in Japan from 1891-1921. It began to appear outside Japan in the late 1800s and some items were made specifically for export.
Nippon pieces are hand painted, so even though a certain pattern may be followed, every piece is unique.
On the better quality pieces, extensive use of "moriage" (raised areas of porcelain) will be found. Beading with moriage or extra paint is often used for more detailed decoration.
Collectors are charmed by the Japanese style of painting flowers, landscapes, and figures. Some of the export items were painted with more western themes and styles.
Prices can range from the very reasonable (around $20/item) to quite expensive. Not to worry, very lovely items can still be purchased with a small investment.
We have several nice Nippon items at the Old Stone Mill at extremely low prices. Stop by and check them out.
Reproductions are being made today. The best advice is to get a good Nippon reference book and become familiar with the backstamps. For more information, please refer to any of these Nippon Porcelain reference books:
Store News
Nippon pieces are hand painted, so even though a certain pattern may be followed, every piece is unique.
