A RARE ENGLISH DELFTWARE PUNCH BOWL

A RARE ENGLISH DELFTWARE PUNCH BOWL, LONDON, DATED 1715 inscribed Edmond Tanner of Northfleat 1715 in a cartouche and painted with wreathed reserves of vases of flowers, the interior with central spray and six artemesia leaves, 40cm diamProvenance: Almost certainly Edmund Tanner (d 1718-19) Mariner of Northfleet, Kent.A bowl of identical size and perhaps painted by the same hand, dated 1714, is thought to have been an engagement present for Robert Hooper and his wife, Mary, who were married at St Butolph's Church, Bishopsgate on 1 April 1716. It is illustrated Britton (Frank), London Delftware, fig 116a and b.A similar Delft punch bowl is the central feature of William Hogarth's "A Midnight Modern Conversation", the engraving of which was published in March 1732. Punch drinking became fashionable following the enactment of Sir Robert Walpole's unpopular Excise Bill, a measure to levy tax on tobacco and wine.English Delftware punch bowls of this early deep type with steep sides and especially of such large size are rare.