Description:  There are three different Canton soap dishes: rectangular, round with flat round knob and round with loop knob. All consist of 3 pieces: top, pierced liner and the base. All tops fit into inset rims and all bases (except loop knob dish) are unglazed. These rectangular examples we classify as “rare” whereas the other two are “very rare/unique”.

The two soap dishes pictured here are very much alike but there are differences: lets start with the knobs, the knob on the left dish is octagonal made by very slight corner cuts and the two line ridges on the knob are horizontal. The other knob is rectangular and the two ridge lines are verticle (see the last picture). The top on the left dish is considerably larger and its liner has 4 triangular patterns of holes. The liner from the right dish has two triangles but the rest are not very well defined. The base on the left dish has a wider rim and is thicker.

Remember, any Canton form that consists of 3 pieces is very hard to find complete and in perfect condition. If they are, they command a high valuation.