Covered Punch Bowl 1882 - 1887

Hobbs, Brockunier and Company crafted this covered punch bowl in the United States, sometime between 1863 and 1891. The most striking feature is the arrangement of circular indentations, each glowing with an inner light. These orbs might evoke ancient concepts of the cosmos. In many cultures, the circle represents completeness, eternity, and the cyclical nature of life. Think of mandalas from Buddhist traditions, where circles within circles signify the universe's structure and the path to enlightenment. Consider also the fruit on the lid. The fruit symbol has a long history, representing fertility, abundance, and temptation. Perhaps it harkens back to the story of Adam and Eve, a potent symbol of human desire and knowledge. The fruit here, perched atop the vessel, suggests a culmination of earthly delights, a focal point for social gatherings, and perhaps, a hint of earthly indulgence. Symbols such as this persist because they tap into our collective memory, echoing through time and cultures, constantly reshaped, yet eternally resonant.