Click on image to enlarge.

John Bennett Pottery (working 1876-1882),
New York City, 1876-1882

Virginia Carroll Crawford Collection, 1982.287

Late-nineteenth-century Americans became
fascinated with the asymmetrical, stylized,
and abstract depictions of nature in traditional
Japanese art. American manufacturers and
designers set out to capitalize on the Japanese
craze. These objects were produced one at a time,
requiring hand-finishing.