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 round examples we classify as ” very rare” if not “unique” as we have never seen others and they are not pictured in Herbert Schiffer’s book. Rectangular ones are “rare” and are in Schiffer’s book.

The three soap dishes pictured here are very much alike but there are differences. We will call the large one #1 and the pair of smaller ones #2s. #1’s size is obviously much larger, its knob is flat round whereas the #2s have mostly flat round knobs with tiny “pimples” on their tops.  #1’s rain cloud border is on the top, it is on the liners of the #2s. The liners’ piercings on #1 are 4 triangles whereas #2’s are in a square pattern. The bases of all three are unglazed.

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 higher valuation.