Vintage Meito China

The vintage Meito china set pictured below was found stored in the shed at my in-law’s house after my mother-in-law, Mary Margaret Athya Murphy, passed away in 2006. The china would most likely have belonged to her mother (my husband’s grandmother), Bertha Edna Smith Athya, or his great-grandmother, Amanda Larimer Horne Smith. Unfortunately, I have no way of knowing who the original owner was.

The china set consists of a plate or tray, sugar bowl with spoon, and salt and pepper shakers. They are hand painted with a floral pattern of blue flowers and green leaves, and trimmed in gold. The background is tinted a very pale shade of blue. The measurements are as follows:

Plate or tray – Width 6 ½”, 3/8” outer lip (sides).

Sugar bowl – Width 3” at bottom, height 1 7/8”. Spoon – Length 3 ¼”.

Salt and pepper shakers – Width 2 ¼” at bottom, height 2 7/8”. 

The corks for the salt and pepper shakers still exist but have been pushed inside. All items are in good shape with no visible cracks or chips. The backstamp on the plate or tray and sugar bowl reads: 

MEITO CHINA

HAND PAINTED

MADE IN JAPAN

I found a similar set on Etsy priced at $39.99. The Meito company was founded in 1908 so that fits in the timeframe for Bertha or Amanda.

Bertha Edna Smith Athya (1898 – 1979), Amanda Larimer Horne Smith (1859 – 1943)
holding Mary Margaret Athya. Circa 1929 – 1930.

Reference

• Adler, Brian, The History of Meito China; https://www.theclassroom.com/japanese-tableware-early-1900s-10453.html. 
• Rare Vintage Meito China Salt and Pepper Set, Sugar and Tray, House and Trees, Etsy; https://www.etsy.com/listing/1447509260/rare-vintage-meito-china-salt-and-pepper.