Have a set of service for 12 of Noritake China with the Sheridan pattern. It consists of service for 12 of 12 plates, Cup and saucers, Bread and butter plates, plus numerous serving pieces. The set is believed to be at least 125 years old Plus. All are in excellent condition.Thanks for your help

This info was gleaned from:
Noritake China at Replacements (http://www.replacements.com/mfghist/noritake.htm)

Noritake is a word frequently heard in collectible and antique circles. The origins of Noritake as china formally begin with the founding of a company titled Nippon Toki Kabushiki Kaisha, Ltd. In Japan in early 1904.

It was much later, in the 1980s, when the company officially assumed the name Noritake Company. A 1981 company brochure states "because Noritake is the name of a place, that word could not be officially registered as a trade name. However, because of the consistently high quality and reliability of our products, we were finally given permission to register the name."

In 1876, years prior to the founding of Nippon Toki Kabushiki Kaisha Ltd. Ichizaemon Morimura VI and Yutaka Morimura formed Morimura Brothers. Inc. It was a trading company dedicated to exporting traditional Japanese products. Ichizaemon Morimura VI had been a visionary and supporter of modernization for Japan. Within the year Yutaka had opened a Morimura Bros. retail store in New York. From this earliest period, Morimura sought to adapt quality Japanese art and skilled craft to the needs, designs and market appeal of the American consumer. Morimura did not produce products during this period but exported the creations of others. In 1890, the McKinley Tariff Act was passed by Congress that required imports to the United States to be marked with their country of origin. Nippon was commonly used to identify Japan in part because it is a Japanese word for the country. Nippon signifies only the country of origin and implies no other information. Early Morimura imports would likely have been marked thus, as would have other imports from Japan.

The quality of early Noritake varies greatly. This is because of the manner in which it was decorated. China blanks were made and provided to independent decorators and painters in nearby regions. Quality varied with the individuals skill. From 1878 to 1884 the Morimura brothers operated a china decorating facility of their own, but not a pottery. In Noritake Collectibles, Lou Ann Donahue reports that from 1884 until 1890 they utilized decorating factories "all over Japan."

It was the Morimura brothers success at matching Japanese production with American designs that lead to the birth of Noritake in 1904. Incorporators were Ichizaemon Morimura, Magobei Okura, Jitsuei Hirose, Yasukata Murai, Kazuchika Okura, and Kotaro Asukai. The factory to produce the porcelain was located near the source of raw materials and in a community rich with skilled potters. That site was Nagoya on the main island of Honshu.

Within a few years of Noritake's founding, the company undertook production of the machinery necessary for use in its potteries. This would prove critical and a key element
In the company's success because it insured the availability of machinery, and set a high standard for production capabilities.

The early backstamps were in traditional Japanese Konji characters, resembled brush strokes, and told the country of origin. Morimura brothers was a many faceted importing company of which the "Noritake" china lines were just one part. The first Japanese registry for a Noritake backstamp is reported as 1908 for use in Japan. The first reported U.S. registry for a Noritake backstamp for importing is 1911.

6904 I have 8 dinner plates
6 medium plates
9 small plates
And 5 saucer plates
4 coffee cups
1 sugar bowl
1 creamer

Again! Go to replacements.com, click on the N for Noritake and search the list for your pattern. Keep in mind that there are 3 values - 1. retail, 2. what the dealer will pay for a piece, usually 40-50% of retail, and 3. insurance value which is usually double the retail value and is what the insurance company will pay if items are damaged. One thing I keep forgetting to mention! Condition! If the piece(s) are perfect, the retail value applies. Gold paint fading is not usually problematic, unless it is severe. "Flea bites", which are tiny chips around the rims of china can also reduce the value. Thanks to bones252100 for the excellent history on Noritake!

Please keep an eye on the dates - this is over 2 years old.

So it is. But anyone who wants to see how much their china or crystal is worth might read this and find it helpful. However, I didn't look at the date and I will do so in the future.