Watering Can Shakers Appraisal

Vintage Japanese Hand-Painted Porcelain Watering Can Salt and Pepper Shakers

A charming pair of vintage porcelain salt and pepper shakers designed in the whimsical shape of garden watering cans. These pieces are crafted from white glazed porcelain, featuring a rounded bulbous body, a curved pour spout that functions as the shaker head, a C-shaped handle, and a tiered pedestal base. Each shaker is meticulously decorated with hand-painted floral motifs in warm autumnal tones of orange, burnt sienna, and brown, with delicate leaf accents and gold-tone banding around the spouts. The 'M-in-leaves' backstamp visible in the listing images signifies they were produced by Morimura Brothers (later Noritake) or a contemporary Japanese exporter during the mid-20th century, likely the 1930s to 1950s. The set measures approximately 3 inches in height. Condition appears good with minimal visible wear to the hand-painted surfaces, though minor age-related crazing or slight loss to the gilt accents may be present under close inspection. The craftsmanship is typical of high-quality Japanese export porcelain of the era, characterized by thin walls and refined detail. These items retain their original cork or plastic stoppers (variations visible in gallery thumbnails) and show no evident cracks or chips, making them a well-preserved example of novelty kitchenware.