Otagiri Animal Collectibles
In my opinion, Otagiri made some the most realistic animial tableware figurals available in the collectibles world. Be sure to look at the Photo Gallery for Otagiri Animal Collections. The most popular collection is the Blue Cat which has already been featured. But Otagiri made a variety of other tableware collections featuring: Holsteins (Black and White Cows), Pigs, Kitty Whiskers, Mallard Ducks, Ribboned Geese or Three Geese, Green Frogs, Brown Pigs, Pink Pigs, Mary Ann Baker's Pig with Corn, and Rodeo Cowboy. Of course, there are many other animals that were made in collections that I don't have. I have grouped these photos in one gallery to give a taste of the types of animals. What I can't show in the gallery is all of the items available in these groups.
Most of the groups have a cookie jar, cups/mugs, salt and pepper set, cream and sugar set, butter dish, vase, napkin holder, trivet(s), pitcher, jug, spoon holder, and possibly other items I have not come across yet. For each of the animal groups I have in the gallery, I have multiple items available for sale.
I have found that most Otagiri collectibles are in very good condition, perhaps because of the original cost of the items. It seems that people tended to buy the items and then use them for display purposes only. Most of the items still have the original foil label on the bottom. All Otagiri items will have the Otagiri trademark. Even the smaller items have the trademark. Fortunately, for collectors, many will even be date-stamped on the bottom. Most of the items I have that are dated have 1979-1982 dates stamped on the bottoms. However, not all items will be date stamped.
The only set that confuses me is the Rodeo Cowboy set. I have a tendency to believe that this set is earlier than 1979-1982 because of the theme and the type of the porcelain ware. I believe this was made possibly in the 1950s or early 1960s. But there is so little information available about the company and its products that it can't be specifically date this early.
Most of the groups have a cookie jar, cups/mugs, salt and pepper set, cream and sugar set, butter dish, vase, napkin holder, trivet(s), pitcher, jug, spoon holder, and possibly other items I have not come across yet. For each of the animal groups I have in the gallery, I have multiple items available for sale.
I have found that most Otagiri collectibles are in very good condition, perhaps because of the original cost of the items. It seems that people tended to buy the items and then use them for display purposes only. Most of the items still have the original foil label on the bottom. All Otagiri items will have the Otagiri trademark. Even the smaller items have the trademark. Fortunately, for collectors, many will even be date-stamped on the bottom. Most of the items I have that are dated have 1979-1982 dates stamped on the bottoms. However, not all items will be date stamped.
The only set that confuses me is the Rodeo Cowboy set. I have a tendency to believe that this set is earlier than 1979-1982 because of the theme and the type of the porcelain ware. I believe this was made possibly in the 1950s or early 1960s. But there is so little information available about the company and its products that it can't be specifically date this early.