Hand painted Washington D.C. Small Vase / Hat Pin Holder, Nippon, Japan

Hand Painted Hat Pin Holder –Capital at Washington, D.C.

Made by Morimura Brothers in Noritake, Takaba-villlage, Aichi  Mark used between 1912 and 1921

This piece was made to be sold as a souvenir in Washington, D.C.  Under the McKinley Tariff Act (1890) for products to be sold in the USA the country of origin was mandatory and was to be shown in English. But for some reason “Nippon” (which is the Japanese name for Japan) was used until it was finally changed to say “Japan” on marks starting in 1921.