The only historical reference I have found is from the DICTIONARY OF WORLD POTTERY AND PORCELAIN by Louise Ade Boger. On page 244, she illustrates one of the Double Phoenix marks with N.K.T.IRONSTONE underneath. The following is her information: "Nihon Koshitsu Toki Company: In Japanese ceramics, an important 20th century industrial manufacturer of ironstone tablewares located in the Ishikawa prefecture. They produce such well-known traditional patterns as Blue Willow, which bears a trademark including the inscription Double Phoenix N.K.T. Ironstone."
Nikko Ironstone may be a later term used by the company. We also see "Craftsman" and other names in the mark on the back of the willow pattern that is based on the pattern made by the Booths China Co. in England. The quality is not quite as good in the later "Craftsman" marked wares, but the basic pattern made by the company is very nice -- the nicest Japanese willow made, in my opinion. In addition to pink and blue, they also produced green and very rarely -- purple. I know of no source for learning exact production dates for any of the pieces. The nunmbers you cite are pattern numbers that were used to reorder additional pieces for the pattern. Enjoy your collection!
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