Several U.S. potteries offered “Japanese garden bowls” during the period 1910-1920. Brush/McCoy, Zanesville Stoneware Company and Haeger (and probably others) displayed, in their catalogs, large (10″ to 14″), very shallow rectangular or round bowls with vertical sides (rim not turned-in), sometimes on three or four short peg feet. They are described as “Japanese garden bowls”, “Japanese bowls” or “Jap. gardens”.

Does anyone know how this type of item got into the catalogs of these industrial producers of pottery? Or how they were used back then? They must have had a market, or Brush/McCoy, etc. would not have included them in their lines. Maybe the World Expositions in the U.S. at the end of the 19th Century and into the 20th had Japanese exhibits that stirred up interest inthis country?

Any comments or references would be great!

Thanks