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Add a touch of 1950s-1960s mid-century charm to your kitchen or collection with this delightful vintage NASCO Japan set of three anthropomorphic salad dressing cruets.
Each ceramic bottle is hand-painted as a whimsical waiter representing a different dressing:
Italian
French
Russian
These vintage Japanese imports have become popular with collectors of Mid-Century Modern, kitsch, and novelty kitchenware.
Features
Authentic vintage NASCO Japan
Original foil NASCO Japan labels on the bottoms
Hand-painted ceramic
Three matching cruets
Original cork stoppers
Great display or conversation pieces
PLEASE NOTE: There are two labels shown. The first one, that is worn, is the label on the bottom of one of the bottles. The undamaged, clear label IS NOT on any of these figures, it is shown ONLY to SHOW YOU what the original label looked like to validate the brand being sold here.
Condition Notes -Please see condition notes elsewhere in the ad.
Original wire carrying rack that came with these sets is unfortunately NOT included.
Please review all photos carefully for the best representation of condition.
These charming cruets display beautifully in a mid-century kitchen, on a bar, or in a collection of vintage Japanese, French, Italian or Russian ceramics.
Shipping Items will be carefully wrapped with special attention given to protecting the ceramic heads and corks to ensure safe arrival.
A note about the care of these items (From my AI):
To safely clean these**NASCO salad dressing cruets**, you must treat them with extreme care. The colorful designs on mid-century Japanese ceramics were applied using a technique called **"cold paint."** This means the details and lettering were painted *on top* of the glossy fired glaze rather than under it. Because the paint was never baked into the ceramic, **water, soap, and friction will easily melt or flake it off.**
The best preservation strategy requires a gentle, dry-first cleaning method to protect the valuable lettering:
Step 1: The Dry Dusting (Primary Clean)- **Never submerge them in a sink** or run them under a faucet.- Use a **dry, ultra-soft microfiber cloth** or a clean cosmetic makeup brush to gently sweep away surface dust, cobwebs, and grit.- Avoid using any stiff-bristled brushes or paper towels, which can act like sandpaper on loose paint.
Step 2: Spot-Cleaning the Glaze Only- If there is stubborn kitchen grease or residue on the white, unpainted parts of the porcelain bodies, **moisten a cotton swab (Q-tip)** with lukewarm water and a single drop of mild, additive-free dish soap (like original Blue Dawn).- Squeeze the swab so it is barely damp—not dripping wet.- Carefully dab *only* the shiny, white glazed areas. **Do not let the damp swab touch the black script lettering** or the colored paint of their outfits.
Step 3: Handling the Cork Stoppers- The natural corks attached to the waiters' heads can become brittle, dry, or stuck over time.- If a cork feels jammed, do not force or twist the head aggressively, as the ceramic neck can easily snap.- To clean the corks, gently wipe them down with a dry cloth. If you need to sanitize them, use a cotton ball lightly dampened with **rubbing alcohol**, which evaporates quickly without water-logging the wood or risking the paint on the heads.
What to Avoid at All Costs- **No Dishwashers:** The high heat and intense water pressure will instantly strip these bottles down to plain white ceramic.- **No Soaking:** Soaking causes water to seep under the edges of the cold paint, causing it to bubble and peel away in large sheets.- **No Solvents:** Keep window cleaners, chemical wipes, and abrasive scrubs far away from vintage kitchenware.
