Objects

Viewing Record 4 of 134
Previous Record  Next Record
Switch Views: Lightbox | Image List | List

Punch Bowl with Masonic Symbols
1800-1825
Maker not marked
England: Sunderland
earthenware
overall: 5"h x 9-3/4"dia
Museum Purchase
2012.019

White footed Masonic punch bowl with transfer-printed and luster decoration. Pink luster line around rim and base of foot. Pink luster "squiggles" on inside and outside of body of bowl. Colored scenes on outside of bowl. One shows three men with a drum, anchor and cannon. Ship and castle in the background. Lettering below the scene reads "The Flag That's Braved a Thousand Years / The Battle and The Breeze." A second scene on the outside of the bowl shows a bridge over a body of water with several ships at sail. Set inside an oval. Lettering above and below the scene reads: "A West View of the Cast Iron Bridge over the River Wear built by R. Burdon Esq. / Span 236 Feet Height 100 Feet Began 14 Sept. 17 Opend. 9 Augt. 1796." Also on the outside is a feather outlined oval with a ship at top. Inside the oval is a verse: "When tempest's mingle sea and sky / And wind's like lion's, rage and rend / Ship's o'er the mountain water's fly / Or down unfathom'd depth's descend / Though skill avail not, strength decay / Deliver us good Lord we pray." Inside the bowl are additional scenes. Inside bottom is a second image of the bridge over the River Wear, just like the one on the outside of the bowl. Inside on the sides of the bowl are three scenes. One shows a man taking leave of a weeping woman and a child. There is a ship in the background. Lettering below reads: "Sailors Farewell. / Sweet, oh: Sweet is that Sensation / Where two hearts in union meet / But the pain of Separation / Mingles bitter with the Sweet." One inside scene shows an arrangement of Masonic symbols with an open Bible at center with square and compasses lying on top. The sun peaks out above the book. Female figures of wisdom, hope and charity appear at top and at the sides. Other symbols include: beehive, dove, moon, three candlestands, level, Jacob's ladder, trowel and keys. The third scene inside the bowl has a green leafy oval with flowers. Inside the oval is a verse: "Women Make Men Love, / Love Makes Them Sad, / Sadness Makes Them Drink, / And Drinking Sets Them Mad."


For futher information, see blog post, April 9, 2013 http://nationalheritagemuseum.typepad.com/library_and_archives/2013/04/new-to-the-collection-a-masonic-punch-bowl.html



Related Media