Lefton China Demitasse Pot (Footed Rococo Revival Pink Roses #1077), Circa 1960s 👑🌹🇯🇵

This is a fact-verified collectible porcelain pot from the iconic American import brand, Lefton China.

The object is classified as a top-shelf demitasse collectible, appealing to collectors who value ornate Rococo Revival aesthetics and the documented history of post-war Japanese export ceramics.

Its visual identity is defined by its three gilded feet, the scalloped body molding, and the charming pink rose bouquet decal. The valuation is grounded in its clear Lefton brand pedigree and its rarity as a miniature footed form.

2. About the Object 📖✍️✨ The vessel is made from fine white porcelain and is executed in a distinctly ornamental style that suggests 18th-century European craftsmanship. Its small size confirms its original function as a demitasse (half-cup) pot for serving espresso or strong tea.

The piece rises from three miniature gilded feet and features a deeply fluted and scalloped body . The surface is decorated with a multi-color floral transfer print, featuring delicate pink roses and yellow/purple sprigs, a classic motif for Lefton wares.

The highly detailed gold gilt on the spout, scroll handle, and feet is a key element of its luxury presentation, reflecting the period's desire for sophisticated, affordable collectibles.

3. About the Maker/Origin ✍️🏛️ This piece was imported by George Zoltan Lefton, who established the Lefton Company in Chicago in 1941. Lefton was a visionary figure known as the "China King" for his role in establishing trade relationships with Japanese ceramic producers immediately following World War II.

Manufacturing took place in Japan, where local factories, often led by figures like the Miyawo Company, produced high-quality, hand-painted porcelain to Lefton’s specifications. The design style—reproductions of older European forms—was highly successful in the American market, leading to Lefton items being sold in over 10,000 U.S. shops at one time. This pot is a documented legacy of that economic and industrial success story.

4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜 This teapot was created during the Mid-Century Era, circa 1950s–1970s, a time of massive consumer spending and a national fascination with decorative imports.

The design is a clear example of the post-war Rococo Revival, providing domestic consumers with affordable, highly ornamental luxury after the austerity of the preceding decades. The influx of high-quality Japanese porcelain, channeled through importers like Lefton, was critical to the economic recovery of both the U.S. retail sector and the Japanese manufacturing industry. This piece serves as a functional time capsule of the period's successful global trade and the pervasive influence of George Z. Lefton on American decorative tastes.

5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️ This piece is an essential acquisition for a curator focused on American Mid-Century Import Ceramics or the history of the Lefton Company.

It is ideally suited for a buyer who specializes in demitasse services or the decorative footed teapots of the post-war era. The collector who acquires this item values the clear factory pedigree (Item #1077) and the romantic aesthetics of the pink rose decal, ensuring it is a prized accent in a traditional, highly curated interior.

6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️ This fine porcelain teapot is approximately 50 to 75 years old, having survived decades of domestic use as a decorative item.

Its Bibliographical Scarcity is low to moderate due to Lefton’s high-volume production; however, its value is significantly maintained by its Aesthetic Premium—the highly ornamental form, the intact gold gilt, and its status as a verifiable Item #1077. Its worth is derived from its established place in the American collectibles market and its visually superior, ornamental design.

7. Condition 🔎📚✨ The physical condition has been assessed directly from the provided high-resolution photography. The object is deemed to be in Good Vintage Condition, with material defects appropriate for its age.

• Maker's Mark: The printed mark with the crown device and the number 1077 is visible on the base.

• Gilding Integrity: The gold trim on the three feet, handle, and finial is largely intact, showing minimal signs of rubbing, which is a major positive.

• Structural Integrity: The body, spout, and handle are free of any chips or cracks.

• Crazing is Present: A network of fine, age-related crazing lines is visible on the glaze surface, which is a mandatory deduction from its pristine value.

• Decoration Integrity: The multi-color floral transfer print is vibrant and fully intact.

8. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

• The "China King": Lefton founder George Z. Lefton earned this nickname due to his high-volume success in importing fine porcelain to the U.S. retail market.

• Occupied Japan: Many of Lefton’s early pieces bore the stamp "Made in Occupied Japan" (1946-1952), a mark that confirms the unique period of post-war commerce.

• Three-Footed Form: The unusual three-footed base is a deliberate design choice that enhances the piece's ornamental quality, echoing the style of rare 18th-century European porcelain display items .

• Model Number Clarity: The explicit use of the item number #1077 on the base is a testament to the factory’s meticulous production records, making this piece easy to authenticate and catalog for collectors.

9. Supporting Information 🏷️📦💰

• Object Type: Miniature Demitasse Coffee/Tea Pot (Footed Form)

• Maker: Lefton China (Imported by Geo. Z. Lefton)

• Year/Period: Circa 1960s (Mid-Century)

• Place of Origin: Japan

• Materials: Fine Porcelain, Fluted Mold, Floral Transfer Print, Gold Gilt

• Model/Item Number: 1077

• Dimensions (Approximate, from photos): 5.5 inches tall x 5.5 inches long (spout to handle)

• Maker's Mark Transcription (Printed on Base): [Faint Crown] [Faint Script] 1077