NASCO Brittany

This tureen (or casserole or soup pot) and ramekin set was made by the National Silver Company of Nagoya, Japan and marked “NASCO Brittany”. It could be used as a fondue set also.   The chances are that it was made by one of the many ceramic companies in the Owari province.  This area produced varieties of porcelain and pottery over many centuries, more particularly Seto ware. 

It consists of a metal frame holding a ceramic bowl over a metal container for a flame to heat the contents.   Six ramekins are held by metal hooks on the outside of the metal frame, through holes in the underside of the handles.  This set came in two different metal frames, the other being a tree holding the ramekins vertically. 

Various other china dinnerware has been produced by NASCO, but it seems that NASCO Brittany was a one-off, short lived experiment.  You can find many odd ramekins in op-shops for not much money.  Rarely do you find a full set like this.