RARE AND MASSIVE BRISTOL DELFTWARE BLUE AND WHITE PUNCH BOWL CIRCA 1765

The interior with a large ship in full sail above an elaborate foliate scroll.

Longridge Collection, Connecticut;
Jonathan Horne Antiques Ltd., London.

Leslie B. Grigsby, The Longridge Collection of English Slipware and Delftware, Volume 2, pp. 352-353, cat. no. D318. 

There are some typical chipping along the rim edges. There is a 3-inch long restored area at the rim issuing two long haircracks, one running all the way down the side across the footrim to the center of the base, the other running diagonally down the side for approximately 7 inches. There is another long haircrack running down the side from the rim to the footrim and forking into two directions at the footrim, uniting again on the otherside of the footrim and stopping at the center of the base. Additionally there are three short haircracks running down from the rim edge. There are several small, approximately 1/4-in. restored rim chips. The interior of the rim edge and the sides of the bowl on the inside are mostly oversprayed and are soft to the touch of the pin, most likely covering haircracks and chipping. There are very minor, short occasional scratches to the enamels.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

According to Leslie B. Grigsby, several punch bowls of this size bearing decoration in the same style were painted in the bianco-sopra-bianco technique and were inscribed with either commemorative or ownership identifications. A punch bowl of comparable size, variously painted with a continuous Chinese landscape scene, and the interior painted with a similar sailing ship in polychrome was formerly in the Collection of Jean and Kenneth Chorley and was sold at Christie's New York, January 25, 1993, lot 15.