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Up for sale is a wonderful and highly unique pair of antique pre-WWII Japanese porcelain salt and pepper shakers featuring a local Tennessee store promotion. The front of each shaker is hand-painted in traditional Kutani style with vibrant coral red borders surrounding a detailed courtyard scene of Japanese Geishas walking through a garden landscape. The reverse of the salt shaker features original printed advertising for the Baird-Cates Company, a historic furniture, stove, and rug retailer that operated at 209 W. Vine Ave. in Knoxville, Tennessee during the 1920s and 1930s. As was common for promotional sets of this era, the advertising text is showcased on one shaker while the matching companion completes the display.Historical Import Marking Note:
The underside of the pieces are stamped with the vintage, simple block-text \"JAPAN\" country-of-origin mark. This specific stamp was mandated by U.S. import laws during the 1920s and 1930s before trade halted completely during World War II, guaranteeing these are authentic, pre-war production items and matching the exact era of the historic Knoxville storefront.Item Details:
• Type: Salt and Pepper Shakers (Pair)
• Age: Circa 1920s - 1930s (Approx. 100 years old)
• Origin: Made in Japan / Customized for Knoxville, TN
• Main Colors: Coral Red, White, Green, GoldCondition:
Excellent antique condition with no chips, cracks, or structural damage. The hand-painted geisha scenes are bright, and the local advertising text on the back remains perfectly crisp and legible. Please note minor expected age-related shelf wear on the base rings and missing cork stoppers on the undersides, typical for authentic utilitarian pottery of this era. (Please review all high-resolution photos carefully to confirm condition details).Shipping & Handling:
Will be packed with extreme care using plenty of protective bubble wrap to guarantee a completely safe arrival to your destination. Feel free to reach out with any questions!
