The frog is white porcelain — low and round, the whole form settled on four stubby legs, the body broad at the shoulder and tapering toward a blunt face with small painted eyes and a gold-touched nose. A transfer-printed floral decal runs across the back: orange and yellow blossoms on green stems, the pattern pressed flat against the glaze with the precision of mid-century Japanese production.
The base carries the original Lefton foil trade mark label — red and gold, the script intact — and the mold number 1901 stamped in black against the white foot. George Zoltan Lefton founded his Chicago import company in 1941 and sourced from Nagoya manufacturers through the postwar decades; this label dates the piece to the height of that production. Green felt pads on the feet, original or early.
Found at the Rochester Salvation Army, January 2025.
Hunter's Notes
Found at the Rochester Salvation Army, January 2025. The Lefton foil label on the base is still intact — that red and gold mark is how you know. Mold 1901. Postwar Japanese porcelain, imported through Chicago. $2.59 at the register.
The Archive Record — JLM-260058
| Maker |
Lefton China Company (G.Z. Lefton Co.), Chicago, Illinois — imported from Nagoya, Japan |
| Established |
1941 — George Zoltan Lefton, Chicago |
| Object |
Decorative animal figurine — frog form |
| Material |
Porcelain; transfer-printed floral decal; hand-painted facial details; gold accent on nose |
| Construction |
Cast porcelain; transfer decal application; original green felt foot pads |
| Era |
Circa 1950s–1960s | confidence: confirmed |
| Country of Origin |
Japan — confirmed (Lefton red foil trade mark label) |
| Condition Tier |
Good |
| Condition |
Original Lefton foil label intact. Original or early green felt pads present. Light age wear consistent with era. No chips, cracks, or damage noted. |
| Hunt Provenance |
Rochester Salvation Army, Rochester, MI — January 2025 |
| Authentication |
Original Lefton red foil trade mark label intact on base; mold number 1901 stamped on base |
| Comparable Sold |
$12–$28 (eBay / Etsy — May 2026) |
| JLM Price |
$22.00 |
| Food Safe |
Not applicable — decorative figurine only |
| Lead Risk |
Unknown — vintage ceramic and painted surfaces; professional testing recommended |
| Child Safe |
No — vintage; lead risk unknown; not tested to modern toy safety standards |
| Gift Idea |
Frog Collector, Mid-Century Collector, Vintage Japanware, Grandmother Core Décor |
Product Specs
| Dimensions |
3.5″ L × 3″ W × 2.5″ H |
| Weight |
0.25 lb |
