A rare, large, mid-18th century, English, delftware bowl

The inside decorated with a chinoiserie floral scene with bamboo tree, willow tree and chrysthanemum growing together. The outside decorated with two swans swimming amongst grasses with trailing stems. Decorated in blue on a blue-white glaze. Rim chips. Probably Liverpool, circa 1750.

Reference : Morgan Collection 25/03/1980, lot 43.

Diameter: 35.00 cm./13.75 in.



3056760

Very few bowls of such a rare, large size survive today, especially in original condition.
It is also uncommon to find pieces of English delftware decorated with birds and animals and, consequently, the swans illustrated on this punch-bowl are an important feature. As already discussed, punch-bowls represent one of the most splendid and important types of English delftware. It must have been a delight for the host to bring-out this punch-bowl on important occasions when the house was full of guests, and fill it with the hot steaming punch in which the 18th century delighted. This punch-bowl illustrates fine workmanship and would have occupied a conspicuous place in the household.

Punch-bowls were made in different shapes according to when they were made, and where they were manufactured. Early bowls from London and Bristol were deep, with steep, tapering sides and higher footrims. By the middle of the 18th century punch-bowls produced in all the factories had become shallower. Some had straight, tapering sides, curving-in steeper towards the base, while others, particularly those made in Liverpool, were gradually curved throughout. Towards the end of the 18th century punch-bowls became even shallower, especially those made in Liverpool. The sides of Bristol punch-bowls tended to more rounded than those made in the other factories.

The largest punch-bowls tended to be made in Liverpool, and they were often exceptionally large as in this example.