Punch Bowl
Made in Jingdezhen China, decorated in Guangzhou (Canton) China, about 1800
Made of Porcelain
Gift of Euchlin and Louise Herreshoff Reeves
Hong bowls became popular throughout the West in the late 18th century. These bowls depicted some of the only views of China that many Westerners would ever see and act as records of the China Trade in Canton.
Punch
Punch, originating from the Hindu word “pánch,” was invented by men working for the British East India Company in the early 17th century. Containing five ingredients: water, alcohol, sugar, citrus juice, and spices, punch was popular in Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Canton
Between 1757 and 1842, Canton (also known as Guangzhou) was the only Chinese port open to trade with Westerners. The secluded positioning of the city allowed for better imperial control over the access permitted to Western traders.
Hongs
The term “hong” refers to the factories in Canton, which were used by foreign traders as bases for their operations.
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