Nippon Inkwell with Sailboat

This Nippon Morimura Bros hand-painted porcelain inkwell has a square shape with a lid that has a slightly raised edge adorned with moriage dots. The main body of the inkwell showcases a serene hand-painted scene of a sailboat on calm water, with the boat’s reflection visible in the water. The background is painted in soft, muted tones of yellow, beige, and light purple, giving it a tranquil appearance.

The Nippon mark on the bottom of the inkwell reads “Hand Painted Nippon” and features a wreath with an “M” in the center. This mark indicates that the porcelain piece was made in Japan during the period when Japan was referred to as “Nippon” in trade (1891-1921). The “M” stands for Morimura, a company that was a significant exporter of Japanese ceramics to the West during this time.