Antique Noritake Seven-Piece Hand-Painted Tsukemono Serving Set, Japan

This exquisite antique Noritake tsukemono serving set offers a beautiful glimpse into the Japanese art of the table, where the presentation of food is considered as meaningful as its preparation. The complete seven-piece ensemble comprises one elongated serving dish with pierced handles and six coordinating individual dishes, each delicately hand-painted with a tranquil landscape of trees, water and a countryside dwelling illuminated by the warm colors of a setting sun.
In Japanese cuisine, tsukemono—carefully prepared pickled vegetables—bring color, texture and refreshing acidity to the meal. Traditionally arranged with great attention to season, balance and visual harmony, they may be served from a central dish and placed onto smaller individual dishes for each guest. This thoughtful presentation reflects a broader Japanese appreciation for specialized tableware, intimate proportions and the relationship between food, vessel and season.
The set also reveals the fascinating dialogue between Eastern and Western dining traditions. While Western tables historically favored larger communal serving pieces and formally defined place settings, Japanese dining developed around an arrangement of smaller vessels, each selected to complement a particular food and encourage a more measured, contemplative experience. Noritake brought these traditions together through porcelain made in Japan with forms and decoration that appealed to an international audience.
Each piece features a luminous lusterware finish in warm amber, rust, green and blue tones, enhanced by delicate gilt accents. The green Noritake “M in Wreath” backstamp, with the letter M representing Morimura, dates the set to the early 20th century, approximately the 1920s–1930s.
Although traditionally created for presenting tsukemono, this versatile set lends itself beautifully to contemporary Western entertaining. The central dish may hold olives, cornichons, crudités, nuts, fruit, chocolates, antipasti or small hors d’oeuvres, while the six individual dishes can be used for personal servings, condiments or accompaniments. Both functional and highly decorative, it brings history, artistry and an elegant sense of ceremony to the modern table.

Dimensions
Dish D 2.4 x W 1.5 x H .3

Details

• 1stDibs reference: LU10969250894062
• Period: Early 19th Century
• Date: 1905
• Origin: Japan
• Materials: Ceramic, Porcelain
• Techniques: Painted
• Style: Edwardian
• Dimensions: H 1.2 × W 5.5 × D 12 IN
• Condition: GOOD