Page 51 - Chinese Export Porcelain Art, MET MUSEUM 2003

Punch bowl, interior

54. Punch Bowl. Chinese (American market), I812. Hard paste. bowl during Mayor DeWitt Clintons tenure, had close ties to Clinton,
H. io in. (25.4 cm). Inscribed on foot rim: Made by Syngchong particularly through their various important leadership positions with
the
in Canton, Fungmanhe Pinxt. Lent by the City of New York the Freemasons York. the exact occasionfor pre-
ofNew
Although
celebrated the success Clintons
sentation is not known, it undoubtedly of
to
This extraordinarily capacious punch bowl was madefor the city ofNew commission, appointed explore an inland water routefrom the
andpresented by Brigadier GeneralJacob Morton on
York July 4, 1812. The Hudson River to Lake Erie, in itspleaforfundingfrom the Senate.
shortly thereafter
inscription is emblazoned in gold within a broad border around the rim. Clintons goal to establish such a canal was derailed
The Great Seal the United States appears on two sides. On another side is by war with England, until 1825, when the Erie Canalfinally opened.
of
a rendering, unique Chineseporcelain, of the arms ofNew York City
on
(opposite, bottom). The interiorfeatures careful rendering ofNew York In an unusual departure, the bowl is one of thefew signed export
a
an
Harborfrom Brooklyn, copiedfrom engraving by Samuel Seymour porcelains. In bold lettering around thefoot rim, credit is given to the
published by William Birch of Pennsylvania in 1802. Morton, who gave the Cantonese merchant and to the bowls painter, Fungmanhe.
Syngchong
5o