This is truly an exquisite tea cup & saucer set. Both pieces are in excellent condtion. There is no color loss, no crazing, no nicks, chips, or cracks. No gold loss. My guess is that these have never been used!

The "M" on Noritake china stands for

Morimura, referring to the Morimura brothers who founded the company and were early importers of Japanese goods to America. This mark was used on Noritake's export china, particularly from around 1911 to 1940. Pieces with this stamp are from an early period in the company's history. 

• Origin: The Morimura brothers began importing and selling "Asian China" in New York in the late 1800s before establishing the Noritake factory.
• Symbolism: The "M" is often found within a wreath, with the wreath design taken from the crest of the Morimura family.
• Period: The "M" mark was used on pieces imported to the US primarily between 1914 and 1940. After WWII, the "N" mark became more common.