England, Worcester / c. 1770
Punch Bowl
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Punch Bowl as ceramic (England, Worcester · c. 1770).
The subtle scale-like pattern on this dish was closely associated with porcelain designs from Worcester during the 1700s.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this ceramic as soft-paste porcelain and credits Worcester Porcelain Factory (British, established 1751).
The museum's collection notes: Encircling the exterior of this bowl are four segments containing fanciful birds with wide eyes, long necks, and colorful feathers. Both the birds and their frames were inspired by Chinese motifs that had been adapted and popularized by the French. During the 1700s, punch drinking was well suited for large social gatherings and served as a popular alternative to tea drinking. In fact, the exotic birds and scrolling cartouches featured on this porcelain punch bowl also adorned many of Worcester’s tea services.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtPunch BowlOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.