HAND PAINTED NIPPON PORCELAIN RELISH DISH

This lovely porcelain relish dish has two handles and three small ball feet, and is decorated all around with yellow and blue hand-painted flowers and green leaves that twine around a band of gilding with delicate raised designs. The upper edge has a narrower band of gilding over raised dots which joins with the gilt on the pointed handles. Taken altogether it has a very arts-and-crafts-movement feel to it, both in its shape and in its decoration. The dish is about 4 inches in diameter across the mouth, about 6 inches across including the handles. It does show some slight wear to the gilding on the corners of the handles, as might be expected given its age, but it is otherwise in good condition, without cracks, chips, stains or other damage. It is marked on the back 'Hand Painted Nippon' with the 'M and Wreath' mark, indicating that it was imported through Morimura Bros. of New York City during the 1920's or 1930's. Just beautiful!