This Month

THE ANTIQUE
Punch bowls
Readers old enough to remember the 1960s and '70s will know that punch was often drunk at parties. It was a heady blend of rum, brandy or gin, diluted with water or soda water or cider and embellished with floating slices of citrus fruit or apples. Needless to say, the roots of punch go far back, to 17th-century India in fact, when a similar drink called 'panch' (meaning five) was drunk. It was a concoction comprising five elements - strong, weak, sweet, sour and spicy (think cloves and nutmeg) which we still emulate today. The punch habit spread rapidly to Europe and by the 18th century it was the height of fashion, served with a ladle from large ceramic or silver bowls into individual glasses. Punch bowls proliferated; they could be commemorative, or decorated with the names of societies and guilds, or made as gifts for people. In the 19th century, as glass became easier and cheaper to produce, glass punch bowls with matching drinking glasses were produced, which gave the blended drink universal reach. With punch trending once more, why not go the whole hog and serve it from an antique bowl? At auction you can pick up a ceramic example from £100 upwards, paying more for something rare or of top quality, and investing in a punch ladle adds that authentic touch.
THE EXHIBITIONS
Lucian Freud: New Perspectives
Until 22nd January, The National Gallery, London
Denne historien er fra January 2023-utgaven av Homes & Antiques.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9500+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra January 2023-utgaven av Homes & Antiques.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9500+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på

Sheer Textiles
Delicate, diaphanous fabrics were used for clothing and accessories long before dressing windows and furniture, says Celia Rufey

Six of the best ISLAND COTTAGES
An island getaway is the ultimate escape, and these beautiful boltholes offer a winning blend of romance, seclusion and sensational vistas, says Jenny Oldaker

Collecting LYONS LITHOGRAPHS
The rise of the tea shop in the early 20th century led to a public art project like no other – prints by top artists of the day, decorating the famed Lyons corner houses. Emma Longstaff discovers more

Rainbow REVELATION
The traditional half-timbered façade of this 18th-century cottage in Sweden belies its personality and colour-filled interior

Bloomfield House
What was once the home of the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Bath is now an immaculate, art-filled space, ideal for indulgent group gatherings

Expert advice
Two pros share their tips on throwing outdoor soirées

THE ANTIQUES THAT SHAPED ME - Travers Nettleton
The garden antiques expert shares his love of Roman sculpture and the pieces he would never part with

48 hours in TETBURY & MALMESBURY
Tetbury, a long-established hotspot for antiques shopping, is now joined by its up-and-coming neighbour, Malmesbury – together making the southern Cotswolds a standout destination for arts and antiques lovers. Rosanna Morris explores

LUKE HONEY'S Enthusiasms
This Month: Clockwork Toy Boats

6 DEALERS for vintage and antique washstands
1 1st Dibs