Nottingham Salt-glazed Presentation Punch Bowl

Description:

Nottingham Salt-glazed Presentation Punch Bowl, England, the bowl with scraffito floral decoration and inscription and date "To Mr Richard/Tottic Merchant/In Leeds/1735" and "How Shall we Speak thy praise delicious Bowl/Thou cheary the heart and thou inspires the Soul/Not jove of Necter So divine can boast/Ambrosia is insiped to thy toast/Drink hear you Sons of wit and you will own/The puunch bowl is the only Helicon," ht. 6 1/2, dia. 13 3/4 in.
Estimate $2,000-4,000

There is a very fine approx. 3 inch hairline crack and an approx. 1/2 in crack in the rim; four small rim chips; the footring has been considerably reduced.