Outstanding 18th and Early-19th Century Punch Bowls Manufactured in New York City

To my knowledge, there are only a handful of great American red earthenware and stoneware punch bowls in existence today. Some of those objects have been recovered in archaeological contexts in places like Boston and Philadelphia; although, a surviving Colonial example attributed to New Jersey is also owned by the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.

I also referenced two distinguished New York City punch bowls in a feature story I wrote for the October 2018 issue of Maine Antique Digest, titled, The Red Earthenware Available in the 18th and 19th Centuries in New York City. I consider both of these bowls to be among the best examples of domestic utilitarian pottery known today.

Nevertheless, I viewed one of these bowls last week, when I visited the American Folk Art Museum on the Upper West Side in Manhattan, in order to see the museum's new exhibit, Made in New York City: The Business of Folk Art.

This stoneware bowl is attributed to John Crolius Jr.'s (1755-1841) business in Manhattan; "This highly embellished punch bowl is both finer (thinner and more elegantly shaped) and more delicately decorated than most contemporary American stoneware. Its form, with a raised straight foot and rounded flaring wall, was probably copied from imported Chinese export porcelain examples. The inscription on the bowl, which reads "Elisabeth Crane May 22, 1811," indicates that it was a special commemorative gift to a member of the crane family of Cranetown (now Montclair), New Jersey. Long attributed to John Crolius Jr., it was recently suggested that the bowl may have been made by Caleb Crane, a potter in the Crolius workshop, as a gift for his wife, Elizabeth, or as a christening bowl for his daughter, who was also named Elizabeth."

Manhattan Stoneware Punch Bowl

  19th Century Inscribed and Cobalt Decorated Punch Bowl

Attributed to John Crolius Jr.s (1755-1841) Business in Manhattan

Possibly Made by Caleb Crane, a Potter Employed at the Crolius Pottery

Inscribed "Elisabeth Crane May 22, 1811"

Stands 7 3/4" Tall

Measures 15 1/2" in Diameter

See Article and Description Below for More Information

Photo Courtesy: American Folk Art Museum

Interior of the Bowl

See Article and Description Below for More Information

Photo Courtesy: American Folk Art Museum

 View of the "Elisabeth Crane" Inscription

See Article and Description Below for More Information

Photo Courtesy: American Folk Art Museum

  View of the "May 22 1811" Inscription

See Article and Description Below for More Information

Photo Courtesy: American Folk Art Museum

Information on Display

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: American Folk Art Museum

The other New York City punch bowl is a lesser known object, even though it has been displayed for years on the top floor of the Brooklyn Museum. According to the museum, "This bowl is rare for its extraordinary size and its political inscription. Celebrating the launching of a new ship, the inscription around the top reads, 'Success to the Trade and Navigation in All Free States - North (Hudson) River' with 'August 17, 1792-Albany Packet Two Brothers.' 

However, the inscription at the bottom reads 'Freedom to the G.W.' This abolitionist sentiment reflects a late-eighteenth century plan to gradually emancipate all enslaved African people. 'G.W.' may refer to George Washington, who was sympathetic to this plan, although he remained a slave owner until he died in 1799. His will freed the enslaved people he owned in his household."

New York City Red Earthenware Punch Bowl

  Late-18th Century American-Made Red Earthenware Punch Bowl

The Bowl Celebrates the Launching of a New Ship

But it Also Reflects a Plan to Emancipate All Enslaved African-Americans

Circa 1792

Stands 7 1/8" Tall

Measures 16 1/2" in Diameter

See Article and Description Below for More Information

Photo Courtesy: The Brooklyn Museum - Brooklyn, NY

 Another View of the Bowl
See Article and Description Below for More Information

Photo Courtesy: The Brooklyn Museum

 Another View of the Bowl
See Article and Description Below for More Information

Photo Courtesy: The Brooklyn Museum

Information on Display

See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: The Brooklyn Museum

Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...