Page 15 - Bee-AUG2026

August 2026 To advertise call (775)727-8787 PAGE 15
ornate scrolls, wreaths, and flowers on its metal
frame. A lighted base adds to its appeal.

* * *

Q: Our handpainted Nippon chocolate set,
including a pitcher and five cups and saucers,
has been in our family for over 60 years. It is
decorated with roses and gold and has a blue

GLASS SHADES mark on the base with a leaf. We are wondering
The invention of the electric light bulb didn’t what it is worth so that we can list it correctly in
just introduce an improved, more convenient, our estate.
safer light source. It gave designers new inspira- A: The leaf mark was used by the Morimu-
tion. As the use of electric lights spread during ra Bros., who opened their trading company in
the late 19th to early 20th centuries, lamps with 1876. In 1904, they founded the company that
colorful opaque glass shades became popu- was later known as Noritake, one of the most
lar. They made beautiful decorations, whether famous names in 20th-century Japanese ce-
on or off, and the intense electric light shining ramics. Morimura and Noritake used the maple
through the glass often gave the design a whole leaf mark with the words “Nippon” and “Hand
new look. PHOTO CREDIT: Woody Auction - Colorful Painted” starting in 1891. The mark could be
opaque glass was a popular choice for decorative
Tiffany, Handel, and Pairpoint made the lampshades in the late 19th to early 20th centuries. blue, green, or magenta. Nippon chocolate sets
most famous lamps of the time. They have stun- the size of yours, with the blue leaf mark and
ning, high-quality shades made with complex panies active at the time may not quite reach similar decorations, have sold for about $150
techniques, and the bases are usually bronze and those heights, but especially striking and well- to $300 at recent auctions. For a more precise
often have intricate designs or figural shapes. made examples can still sell for impressive pric- estimate, you may want to contact a collector’s
Unsurprisingly, they can sell for tens or hun- es, even without a known maker. Even though club, like the International Nippon Collector’s
dreds of thousands of dollars today -- a windfall its maker was not identified, this lamp sold for Club (nipponcollectorsclub.com), or an auction
if you’ve inherited one but a bit of an extrava- $3,000 at Woody Auction. Its light blue, or- house or dealer that sells similar ceramics. To
gant purchase for most collectors. ange, and caramel-colored glass panels make an list the value of your estate, you may need to get
Similar lamps made by the many other com- eye-catching combination, especially with the a professional appraisal.

Ca

for Move-in

Special!