Punch Bowl, 1780-1784

This "Hong" bowl shows a panoramic view of foreign merchants' offices, warehouses, and living spaces in Guangzhou, China, in the late 18th century. Flags of each merchant's nation fly in front of their trading offices. These merchants brought these souvenir bowls back to the West and used them for serving punch. Potters produced this bowl before the newly independent United States established trade with China.