NEW RISING MARKET

Orientalism, the design tradition of the 19th century that pictured scenes from Egypt, Morocco, and other glamorous Middle Eastern spots, is gaining new respect. The paintings of harems and market scenes have gone up in price. The jewelry, ceramics and furniture inspired by the art are also selling for much more now than they did ten years ago.

WINNING THE LOTTERY

Winning the lottery is every collector's dream--a chance to buy whatever you always wanted. But a lottery winner in Indianapolis spent so much that the family couldn't pay the bills. So the contents of the house had to be sold in a huge liquidation sale ordered by the court. It took 25 people and four semi trucks to cart all the furniture and bric-a-brac to the auction house. They sold it using three auction rings all day. And of course many antiques dealers and collectors came to bid.

Included in the sale were hundreds of teapots, sets of dishes, 50 salt and pepper sets, bobble heads, glassware tables filled with over-sized Asian vases, two dozen china cabinets, church figures, large and small foo dogs, large carved furniture, many dining room and bedroom sets, and several huge gold Buddha statues. Many of the pieces were duplicates. We noticed they had a Berkey and Gay painted china cabinet, Drexel dressers, Baccarat, Fenton glass, Bohemian glass, Carnival glass, Lenox, Lladro, Franciscan, Royal Doulton, Nippon, Spode, Noritake, Limoges, McCoy, Royal Worcester and Royal Vienna pieces. There were also fifteen or more outdoor statues and fountains, and patio furniture.

The online bloggers couldn't believe it all came from one family. But one blogger claimed to know the family and to have been in their house. At least they bought antiques and collectibles instead of shoes. They enjoyed their purchases, recycled goods, and helped the economy.

M IN WREATH MARK

M IN WREATH MARK

Q: This vase was given to me by a 90-year-old friend in 2000. It was given to her mother before 1920. This is the mark on the bottom. Can you tell me who made this vase?

A: This M in wreath mark was registered in Japan and the U.S. in 1911. It is usually in green, but can be found in blue, gold, or magenta. The "M" stands for Morimura, a trading company that had offices in Tokyo and New York City. Morimura Bros. Co. was founded in 1876 and eventually became Noritake Co. Ltd. The word "Nippon," the Japanese name for Japan, was used on goods imported into the United States from 1891 to 1921. After 1921 "Japan" was used. Marks used after 1915 usually include the words "Made in" and the country name.

NORITAKE

Noritake

Q: A friend asked me to look at some dinnerware she had inherited to determine the maker. I think it might be an old Noritake mark, but I have not seen one exactly like it. Can you help?

A: You are right, it's an early Noritake mark. The mark was used about 1935. Noritake porcelain was made in Japan after 1904 by Nippon Toki Kaisha. The M in a wreath represents the Morimura Brothers, a New York City distributing company. The best-known pieces of Noritake are marked with one of the many "M in wreath" marks.