Vintage Mid-Century hand-painted porcelain Owl creamer, designed by the porcelain artist Mary Ann Baker, produced and distributed by Otagiri, San Francisco, made in Japan. Blind mark in clay "(C) Mary Ann Baker" and paper label "Hand Painted (c) Otagiri, Japan." 1960s- early 1970s.

The creamer is c.4" [10.2cm] tall x 5" [12.7cm] handle to spout, no chips, no cracks, no hairlines, very good / fine condition.

Chiyoko Otoguro Otagiri was born on May 27, 1905, in a farming family, in Cupertino, California. Her family sent her to Japan for education. She returned when she was 18, and married Goro Otagiri from San Francisco. Chiyoko and Goro had three children. They were incarcerated in the Topaz (Central Utah) concentration camp during World War II. After their release, they moved to Boulder, Colorado, where Goro worked as a Japanese teacher for the Navy. The Otagiris moved back to the Bay Area in 1946 and started the Otagiri Mercantile Company.

Their company, with headquarters in San Francisco, started production in the 1950s. The ceramics were produced by a group of artists who painted them by hand. Although the production started in the 1950s, it only officially registered its name as a trademark in 1980. The products carried a 'made in Japan' stamp, and were manufactured there, but the trademark was registered in the United States. Otagiri brand was discontinued in 1994.

Rates vary per zone/ country, we will adjust shipping costs with the invoice.

US: Priority (c.2-4 days) ------------ $20.50
Canada: 1st Class (c.2-6 weeks) ------ $27.50
World: 1st Class (c.2-8 weeks) ------- $35.50