Punch bowl

The bowl is complete, with a few chips on the rim and in the center of the bottom, as well as some breaks that have been repaired with metal studs. It is circular in shape. Its wall is slightly flared, with a straight rim and domed top. The lower part of the wall is curved towards the bottom, which is flat. It rests on a solid ring-shaped foot, whose beveled base is free of glaze; the bottom is recessed and flat. The outer surface and underside of the bowl feature 23 pairs of copper metal studs, the ends of which are inserted into as many pairs of drilled holes. Only two pairs of holes and one single hole are visible on the inner wall ; The decoration is hand-painted in blue underglaze and red overglaze, with touches of gilding, in the Imari style. It is of the lacustrine type. The painted decoration is visible under the rim, on the inner wall and base, as well as on the outer wall. Blue painted decoration is visible in all these areas. Under the rim, it consists of a braid trimmed with a double lattice. The inner wall is decorated with three slightly different groups of leafy and flowering stems. The center of the background is adorned with a medallion consisting of a stem surmounted by a central flower whose veins are outlined in blue, and which is surrounded by leaves, sometimes painted blue, sometimes with veins outlined in blue. The decoration on the outer wall features two lake scenes with islands. The main island is rocky and grassy; it features a central leafy tree, with a house to the left and a pagoda to the right; two trees, including a pine, grow behind the house, while sailboats of birds fly around the pagoda. There are mountains in the background. A covered boat leaves the island at the foot of the pagoda. The other, smaller island is also rocky, but with more buildings and trees. Two small boats sail in front of the island, among the rocks, with a mountain in the background. The movement of the waves is represented by horizontal strokes. The red additions are painted on all motifs in underglaze blue. Under the inner border, the edges of the braid are traced in red, and pearls are painted on the braid. The braid is underlined by a red fillet and a row of arched lines. Flowers and leaves, traced and painted in red, have been added around the groups painted in blue on the inner wall and background. On the outer wall, gilding was added over the red. The islands were painted red, with gilding accents highlighting their relief, grasslands, trees and buildings. Mountains were painted in the background of the main island, and lines were added to those representing the waves.