Noritake Antique Tea Set #1518 RARE blue roses c.1918

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Noritake Antique Tea Set #1518 RARE blue roses c.1918:
$800.00

NORITAKE #1518 (no pattern name)

I have been researching the provenance of this set for two years (details below).

Teapot

Sugar Bowl
Creamer
6 Teacups
5 Saucers
5 Salad Plates

There are no chips or cracks on any piece. It appears to have been displayed but never used. But there are only five saucers and five salad plates.

The FIRST FOUR PHOTOS were taken by me, the NEXT FOUR photos were taken by the lady I bought this set from. The LAST THREE photos are from Replacements.com

I have packed this set away with enough bubble wrap to encircle the earth. I am happy to unwrap each piece and take as many photos as you need.

I BASED MY PRICE ON:

A) the Replacements retail price list. They will only give you this over the phone, please call them and confirm.
B) the rarity of these pieces

WHAT I KNOW:

- The pattern was introduced in 1918 (possibly as late as 1921) according to the backstamp, which I carefully researched.

- Other than Replacements.com, there are only a couple of photos on the internet of any pieces in this pattern.

- There is one person on a Noritake FaceBook group who has been collecting for 30 years and has a set of this rare pattern in a beautiful green, instead of blue. They have never seen another piece of this set in blue or green.

- There were two different styles of teapot and sugar bowl made (referenced in the last two photos) meaning it's possible, probable, that this set is one of a kind.

* * The running theory is this set and at least two others were made as tests/protypes or custom made, didn’t go into production and given to employees as rewards or incentives or gifts. I would love to know.REPLACEMENTSCOM has the most information (I called and spoke with a salesperson for a long time)

- This pattern has not been found to have a name in the history of Replacementscom, it was given the number N1518 for identification.

- In 42 years, only six people (including me) have ever contacted them about this pattern and are on their contact list.

- They have never actually had a piece of this pattern in stock, nor bought a piece in the history of the company. Though they have basic pricing by request, IF they were to ever have a piece.

- They only have a few photos on their website, though I was told they have more photos in their system for identification, apparently provided by private collectors.

- They are not purchasing pieces of this set, which makes me wonder why they offer the option to sign up for their email contact service.

RESEARCH I'VE TRIED:

- I've searched for many, many hours. I've looked on every site, in every country, including but not limited to: , Etsy, Replacementscom, Ruby Lane, Noritake Collectors Guild, Robbin's Nest, many antique/collector/sale sites, every rabbit hole and link I've seen on any given page.

- I've Google searched every combination of the words: Noritake, blue, roses, ID number N1518, the year 1918, early 1920s,antique, vintage, tea set, rare, Nippon, everything I can think of. I even scoured the Noritake Gardens & Museum site in Japanese, which was difficult but none of their current galleries contain this set.

- I've done many Google reverse image searches with no luck.

- Robbin's Nest has an exhaustive list and I've looked at all of them individually (hundreds), even the mystery and unnamed patterns, no luck.

I have not paid an Appraisal or Identification resource for information.

I will pay for UPS ground shipping. I pack breakables to excess. The box will be able to survive a nuclear blast. What can I say? I like bubble wrap and tape.
I can't accept returns and I don't ship internationally.