If you've ever picked up a little Japanese dish or wall pocket that shimmers like the inside of a seashell, you've met lusterware. Much of it was made in Japan for export between the world wars and sold cheaply in American five-and-dimes and gift shops. Today it's loved for its soft colors, hand-painted charm and fun shapes.
We have 3 lusterware and moriage pieces in the shop right now, including this Japan lusterware phoenix bird wall pocket for $46.
See the wall pocket →
What is luster glaze?
Luster is a thin metallic finish painted over an already glazed piece and fired again at a lower temperature. The metal compounds leave an iridescent sheen. On Japanese export pieces you'll most often see a pearly white or mother-of-pearl luster, along with peach, orange, tan, blue and green. Many pieces pair luster with hand-painted flowers, birds, scenes or gold trim.
What is moriage?
Moriage is raised decoration made by piping or building up clay slip on the surface, a bit like decorating a cake with icing. It shows up as raised dots, lines, flower petals, dragon scales and bird feathers that you can feel with your fingertip. Moriage appears on both fine porcelain and inexpensive export pieces, and it adds a lot of texture and charm.
Popular forms and motifs
- Forms: wall pockets, ashtrays, small vases, cups and saucers, condiment sets, trinket dishes and figural animals.
- Motifs: the phoenix bird (hō-ō in Japanese), cherry blossoms, birds on branches, lake and pagoda scenes, and playful animals like cats and dogs.
See it in person: lusterware and moriage in the shop
Each one is a single piece, so when it's gone, it's gone.
How to date it by the mark
Turn the piece over. Japanese porcelain made for the US market is often marked "Nippon," "Japan," "Made in Japan" or "Occupied Japan," and each mark points to a rough date range. Many lusterware pieces from the 1920s and 1930s simply say "Japan" or "Made in Japan" in red or black. Our guide to dating Japanese porcelain marks walks through each one. Paper labels were common too, and many have fallen off over the years, so an unmarked piece can still be old.
Condition to check
- Luster wear: luster is a surface finish, so it rubs off high spots and edges with handling and washing.
- Paint loss: hand-painted details and gold trim often show light wear.
- Moriage loss: raised dots and lines can chip off. Run a finger over them and look for small gaps.
- Chips, cracks and crazing: check rims, edges and the hanging holes on wall pockets.
Care
Hand wash only, gently, with mild soap and a soft cloth. Never use the dishwasher, scouring pads or harsh cleaners, which can strip luster and gold in a single wash. Display pieces out of strong direct sun.
Shop Japanese lusterware
- Japan lusterware wall pocket with moriage phoenix bird
- Pair of hand-painted lusterware cat ashtrays
- Dragonware Rock City souvenir cream and sugar set with moriage dragons
Collecting wall pockets? Don't miss our guide to vintage wall pockets, and see more novelty ashtrays in our ashtray collecting guide.
Keep browsing:
Vintage home decor →Trinkets & oddities →
Keep reading: How to Date Japanese Porcelain by Its Mark · What Is a Wall Pocket? · How to Clean and Care for Vintage Finds
Does a shimmering bit of lusterware remind you of someone's china cabinet? Tell us whose.