Despite its Anglo-sounding name, Shafford dishware was produced in Japan in the mid-1900s. Shafford pieces are not pottery; rather, they are marked as fine bone china. Shafford exported pieces to the United States from Japan starting in the 1940s and ending in the 1970s. Shafford produced china planter mugs depicting famous people, music boxes, figurines, pitchers, pill cups, candle holders and a host of other novelty items.