Hi Margaret,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.

RC Noritake Nippon” refers to an early mark used by the Noritake Company, a Japanese porcelain and china manufacturer. RC stands for "Royal Crockery (sometimes explained as “Royal China”), which was one of Noritake’s export trade names. Nippon is the Japanese word for Japan. Between 1891–1921, U.S. import law required items to be marked with their country of origin, and Japanese porcelain exported to the U.S. was stamped “Nippon.” These marks date this chocolate pot to circa 1910 to the 1920s.

Antique chocolate pots are specialized serving vessels made for preparing and pouring hot chocolate, which was considered a luxury drink in Europe and America during the 18th through early 20th centuries. They have a side handle and sometimes a whisk opening in the lid and can be further distinguished from teapots (which are usually rounder, stubbier, with a top handle or arched spout) and coffee pots (which are taller and more slender, but the handle is usually opposite the spout).

Since your pot doesn't have a side handle, this is for coffee rather than chocolate.

Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:

An antique Noritake Nippon RC gilt porcelain demitasse service
hand-painted in Japan, bearing the RC mark in use from the 1910s to the 1920s
Comprising a hexagonal section covered coffee pot and six hexagonal demitasse cups
Pot: 10 inches tall
CONDITION: This appears to be in good condition.
PROVENANCE: Inherited
$ 100-150 for the set*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.

Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia