The Politics of the Punch Bowl, Part II: British Political Movements

Focusing on a number of case study punch bowls, this paper is the second part of a two-part series on eighteenth-century ceramic punch bowls bearing political messages. It will pick up on the themes explored in the first talk in July last year, continuing to examine how punch drinking was central to eighteenth-century political debate and how the punch bowl in particular played an active role in galvanising support, amplifying political messages and disseminating ideas.

The ‘Age of Punch’ was a time of great political change, revolution and reform. The period saw unprecedented growth in communications and print culture while the spread of Enlightenment ideals, the expansion of urban centres and an increasingly organised and self-conscious middling sort led to increased political engagement outside the ranks of the traditional political elite. At the same time, developments in the technology of ceramics production meant a rise in the availability and affordability of ceramic objects which were both relatively cheap and easy to decorate. These factors combined to influence the decoration and significance of punch bowls which, when examined as a distinct group, reveal much about the nature of engagement in political culture of the eighteenth century.

This talk will examine punch bowls in the context of national British political movements and consider what punch bowls can tell us about the public response to international events.

Francesca John has recently completed an MA in Decorative Arts and Historic Interiors at the University of Buckingham. Her dissertation examined political iconography on eighteenth-century ceramic punch bowls, exploring the relationship between material and political culture in eighteenth-century Britain. Before starting her MA, Francesca worked as a solicitor in the City of London for 17 years.