1950’s Porcelain Inkstand – Japanese Export

1. Identification: The Mark

The blue stamp on the bottom features a Crown above a Shield containing three lions (passant guardant), with the text “Hand Decorated” in script and “FINE CHINA” in block letters.

• Origin: This is a generic import mark from Japan, dating to the mid-20th century (c. 1950s–1970s).
• The Symbol: The “Three Lions” in a shield is the Royal Arms of England.
  • Why it’s used: Mid-century Japanese export companies (such as Arnart, Wales, or Royal Sealy) frequently used “pseudo-hallmarks”—marks that mimicked famous European stamps like the Royal Arms, the Dresden Crown, or the Meissen Crossed Swords. This was done to give their affordable export wares an air of “Old World” prestige.
  • The Clue: Authentic English porcelain using the Royal Arms (like Royal Crown Derby or Mintons) would include the specific manufacturer’s name and usually “Made in England.” The generic text “FINE CHINA” and “Hand Decorated” is the signature of 1950s/60s giftware imports.

2. Visual Description

• Style: The inkstand is modeled in the Rococo Revival or “Louis XV” style. It mimics the shapes of 18th-century French “Sèvres” or “Old Paris” porcelain.
• Design: It features a white ground with scrolling, molded edges heavily accented with gold gilding. The surface is decorated with hand-painted floral sprays, primarily pink roses and blue forget-me-nots.
• Form: It is a double inkstand with a central pen tray.
  • Removable Wells: Two removable cups that sit into the main stand.
  • Lids: The domed lids have molded gold finials.

3. Assessment

While this is a vintage reproduction rather than an 18th-century antique, it is a decorative “cabinet piece.” The “Hand Decorated” stamp is accurate—the floral painting was likely done by hand in a factory studio. It captures the elegance of the Victorian era but was produced for the post-war American home market.

Summary: This is a c. 1950s porcelain inkstand, made in Japan, designed to look like an antique French or English piece.