What Is This Red Orange Peel Glaze Pottery

I think it is modern. Is this some sort of a planter, wash bowl?. What's the hole for?
Thanks

 

Bonsai.

 

Looks like a self-watering planter ... probably for bonsai as bear stated ... but could be used for other plants as well.

 

how does a self watering planter work? The inner piece has no holes. Wonder if the two parts were originally made to fit together or someone combined them.

 

The lower portion of the inner piece should be unglazed (inside and out) where it sits down in the larger piece - this allows the water from the larger piece (which is replenished through the small hole near the rim) to seep in and keep the soil from getting bone dry.

Never used one myself, but saw them last year at the nursery.

 

Yup, that's the thing - it's not a bad way of watering, as it avoids the worst kind of excess and does it from the bottom. (NEVER water plants from the top, or leave them sitting in puddles!)