Sold: Frankenstein Punch

Punch bowl repaired with staples / transfer-decorated earthenware / c. 1850s

Monumental make-do cranberry transferware punch bowl with elaborate staple repairs, English, c. mid-19th century. The serious punch bowl is over a foot and half in diameter and over six inches tall, which makes its survival and its herculean repairs ever more remarkable. Broken in several places, the bowl was expertly stitched up again with wide staples bridging the cracks and stabilizing its girth. Clearly repaired by a practiced hand, the major cracks are hardly visible within the interior of the vast bowl, though they stud the exterior like the stitching on sewn fabric. One can imagine the despair of the original owner upon the expensive bowl’s demise — perhaps a quadrille dancer got carried away after a few cups too many of milk punch — but today we celebrate this monumental make-do for its painstaking resurrection and immaculate flaws.

Measurements

20 inch diameter
6.5 inches tall

Condition

Delightfully shattered, though stable and intact. A couple chips on the rim. Not recommended for serving punch.

Shipping

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the size and fragility of this piece, complimentary free shipping is not available for this item. The item will be professionally packed and shipped via FedEx. If possible, local pickup in Portsmouth, NH is preferable. Direct delivery in New England also a possiblity. If an international buyer, please contact me for a shipping estimate by clicking here.