Tomato Ware
One of my favorite collections is my odd set of bright orange-red Tomato Ware dishes.
They are usually marked ‘Made in Occupied Japan’ or ‘Made in Japan’ and were made in the late 1940s and the 1950s. Two of my pieces are marked Maruhon Ware (with a K surrounded by a circle). Maruhon Ware was made from the 1920s to 1950s. ‘Made in Occupied Japan’ means the piece was made from 1945 to 1952.
The pieces in my collection are shaped like tomatoes (I have one set of salt and peppers shaped like long peppers). They are glazed pottery, coloured in an over-bright green and an orangy red. Most have green leaves as decorations, clasping the base of handles or teapot spouts. My collection is in good shape, the only flaws being a large chip out of the spout of one teapot and a broken handle on one creamer.
three Tomato Ware teapots (the green apples and the larger salt and pepper shakers, 2nd and 3rd from right, are modern pieces)
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I have:
2 jam pots
2 cups/tumblers
3 teapots (one marked with the K surrounded by a circle)
3 pair cream and sugars
1 pair cream and sugar with a tray, and one lone creamer
1 set of salt and peppers
1 set of salt and papers with a tray
1 set of salt and peppers on a tray with a basket handle (belonged to my mother)
1 lone salt shaker
1 set of pepper-shaped salt and peppers
2 tea cups and saucers (both marked Maruhon Ware)
The dishes are very bright and provide an accent color for my very green living room.
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Do you have any pieces of Tomato Ware?
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Copyright Jane Tims 2013
I have never seen or heard of Tomato Ware until I read your post! It is very cheerful looking. Do you use it at all or is it mainly for display? What made you begin to collect it? Will have to keep an eye open for a piece in shops around here.
Barbara Rodgers
February 19, 2013 at 10:12 am
Hi Barbara. It’s mostly for display. I don’t often use older dishes since I am afraid they may contain lead. I started collecting because I liked a piece my Mom had (salt and pepper set on a little tray). I like the colors and the natural theme. I imagine you will see it once you start to look. Jane
jane tims
February 20, 2013 at 8:18 pm
What a fun collection! I;ve never seen anything like many of them. I love the bright colors.
Sheryl
February 19, 2013 at 12:00 am
Hi Sheryl. I’m glad you like the collection! I wonder if you have any of the dishes Helena would have used. Jane
jane tims
February 20, 2013 at 8:15 pm
I have some dishes that I got after she died. I think they all are from the 1930-1950 era. They are ones that the family would have had when my father was young. One dish is a fruit bowl that sits on my kitchen counter–and almost always has bananas or other fruit in it.
Sheryl
February 20, 2013 at 8:32 pm
Hi. You are lucky to have these, and smart to use them. I love having items that I know were used by members of my family. So little survives! Jane
jane tims
February 20, 2013 at 9:03 pm
How glorious! – I have never seen any tomato ware over here.
dianajhale
February 18, 2013 at 2:53 pm
Hi Diana. They were probably made for an American post-war market. They are pretty and I still notice the color after all these years of looking at them. Jane
jane tims
February 18, 2013 at 8:22 pm
No I haven’t any but after seeing yours, I wish I did. They are cheerful and interesting. Thanks for sharing photos of your collection.
Carol Steel
February 18, 2013 at 2:42 pm
Hi Carol. They are quite cheery and form a splash of color for my living room. I still see them at yard sales occasionally and there is always a piece at any antique store. A bit of red in all the snow!!!! Jane
jane tims
February 18, 2013 at 8:20 pm