Erica Gibson's note regarding pre-1921 "Made in Japan" basemarks on
pottery from California is very interesting news!
However, my experience from a 1913-32 garbage dump in Vancouver, B.C.
showed the presence of both "Made in Japan" and "Made in Nippon"
basemarks on semi-vitreous earthenwares and porcelains. I suspect
the use of the term "Japan" is due to a North American preference for
this term over the native "Nippon" used previously.
An interesting situation, to say the least.
Stan Copp
Anthropology
Langara College
Vancouver, B.C. Canada
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