Punch bowl

The bowl is complete; it has four rim breaks; the shards have been repaired with glue. The bowl is circular in shape. In profile, the bowl has a slightly flared wall topped by a straight rim. The lower part of the wall is curved towards the bottom, which is flat. The bowl rests on a solid ring foot. There are flaws in the paste and in the inner glaze, as well as in the glaze under the base. There are linear and curved marks on the inner base; the decoration is applied by transfer printed; it is blue in color and has an oriental motif (Boy on buffalo). The printed decoration is visible under the inner rim, on the inner base and on the outer wall. The decoration under the rim consists of a complex frieze, composed of three different elements. Near the rim is a small band decorated with small pearls in reserve, each with a dark blue core. This is followed by a band adorned with a row of interlaces, with a rosette in the center. These symbols are interrupted at regular intervals by a vertical oval surrounded by pearls, with a central rosette in reserve on a background of dots. This is followed by two rows of staggered semi-circles. One row features radiating semicircles with a reserved core, while the other features alternating radiating lines and a rhombus; the former are surrounded by a string of pearls, while the latter are adorned with a pearl pendeloque. The inner background features an islet with two elongated rocks, trees, a pavilion and a tall pagoda flown over by birds and flanked by a tall oval mountain; the water surface is represented by horizontal lines. The decoration on the outer wall is an oriental scene with a young man riding a buffalo (Boy on buffalo); it is divided into two parts on opposite sides of the bowl. The main decoration features a rocky terrace partly covered with grass and trees; to the right, a tiered temple lined with trees and flown over by birds. To the left walks a buffalo, seen in profile to the left and ridden by a young child whose left arm points backwards, and who wears a triple-lobed headdress. In front of the animal stands a man wearing a similar headdress, seen from three-quarters to the right. Beside him stands a youth wearing a double-lobed headdress and holding a bare branch. They are standing near a rounded rock, behind which two trees stand. The secondary decor is identical to that adorning the inner background, but on a larger scale. The rendering is slightly blurred. The junction of the frieze under the inner border is visible.