Antique Te-Oh Hand Painted Nippon Porcelain Pitcher & 4 Glasses 1891-1921

This is an antique Te-Oh Nippon hand painted porcelain pitcher and four matching cups. Excellent pre-owned condition with no chips or cracks, slight wear on trim. The pitcher is 7" wide and 6" tall. The cups are 4" tall. They are marked on the bottom Te-Oh China, Hand Painted Nippon.

The Nippon era began in 1891 when Japanese porcelain was clearly marked "Nippon" due to the McKinley Tariff Act requiring all porcelain to be marked with the country of origin. ("Nippon" literally means "Japan".) This porcelain was made specifically with designs and patterns that suited American tastes. At that time, Japan had a thriving porcelain industry using methods developed in Europe and America. In 1921 the U.S. government changed its position and required that Japanese imports be marked with "Japan," ending the Nippon era.