English merchants in the east were drinking punch by the 1630s, but it was not widely known in England until the reign of Charles II (1660–85). Much favoured by seamen, it soon became popular with all classes of society and remained so until the nineteenth century. Delftware punch bowls exist with dates from 1681 to 1779. Their decoration is extremely varied, including drinking parties, landscapes and hunting scenes, portraits, flowers and ships. Many of them bear names and dates, or short phrases such as ‘Prosperity to the flock’.

This imposing example, decorated with Chinese landscapes, was probably made at Liverpool, where the first of several delftware factories had been established in 1710. It comprises a large bowl and a three-part lid containing two smaller bowls, perhaps for spices and lemons. The bowl was made for Thomas Bootle (1685–1754), a prominent lawyer, who was returned unopposed to parliament for Liverpool in 1724 after two unsuccessful attempts. It would be interesting to know whether he bought it for himself, or if it was given to him by his supporters, who included several local landowners in opposition to the city council. In 1726 Bootle became Mayor of Liverpool, but he resigned in 1727 so that he could stand for parliament again. He was reelected, and held the seat until 1734.