Hobbies And Interests
Origin
Nippon salt dishes--aka salt cellars, open salts or simply salts--have been collectibles for decades. These graced the tables of many a family during the last hundred-plus years. Although earlier salts made their way into the dining experience during the Grecian era, Nippon salt dishes specifically made their debut in the late 1860s through Baron Morimura, a Japanese representative of commerce of the day who took up the art of making china. When the trade waters opened to Europe and the Americas, Morimura saw the appeal of china tableware and determined he would profit. Although Nippon salts were available to most nations, they became most popular in America.
Design
The salts were hand painted with flowers, fruits and occasionally scenery and were most often trimmed with gold. The stamp mark "Nippon," which translates to "Japan," was printed on the undersides of the china salts around 1890 after the McKinley Tariff Act made this necessary for trade. To make certain of the fine quality of his product, Baron Morimura founded the company name "Toki Gomei Kaisha" in 1904. In 1921, the United States required all Japanese imports to be marked in English, thus ending the era of "Nippon" marks on its china salts.
Size
Most open salts are individually sized, ranging from 4 to 6 inches in diameter. Some are round and set flat, others are oval or squared and some rest on pedestals. Master salt dishes, the large dishes which sat at the head of the table for the host to offer to the guests smaller, individual salts, can be 8 inches long by 3 inches wide, oval or rectangular. You can find large round master salts as well.
Collecting
Nippon salts could be purchased at Sears and Roebuck, Montgomery Ward, dime stores and fairs. Today, collectors travel from town to town searching through antique stores on weekend excursions and can find deals online in virtual stores or by bidding on lots at online auctions.
Although hand-painted salt dishes can be found easily, harder to find together are the master salts with their smaller individual dishes. A wonderful discovery is to have the tiny salt spoon that goes with these little delights. Leisure pursuit of Nippon salt dishes is quite affordable. The average price for one modest-sized bauble is about $15. Those in pristine in condition with all of the original paint are a little more costly at $25 to $50.
Authenticity
As with any collectible, authenticity is important. There are numerous ways to research for genuine Nippon marks, like the most common one pictured here. There are some misunderstood, as well as faux prints. Check with enthusiasts or dealers; one place to go would be the International Nippon Collectors Club.