What ever happened to punch bowls? A while back, I was on the hunt for a giant glass or even metal punch bowl with matching cups, like the ones that used to hold court at family get-togethers and get spiked at proms, but I couldn’t get my hands on one. The only options were flimsy, plastic and didn’t have nearly the same sparkle as the grand bowls that live in my memories.
In the end, I borrowed a beautiful one (with paisley designs, no less) from my friend’s grandmother. Filled to the brim with my famous champagne-cranberry sorbet punch, the bowl was a big hit, and now I really want one of my own. So, I’ve taken to the internet and gone on a full-scale search. Here are my findings:
This Reed & Barton Hand-Chased Punch Bowl (right) is sterling silver and has lion head handles. “Hand-chased” means that somebody engraved this bad boy with their own hands, which is probably part of the reason it goes for $510.94 (but it was $928 before it went on sale). I can’t afford it, but I like the opulence.
Not bad. I like this Lancaster Colony 8 qt. Punch Bowl (left). It’s not very ornate, and though I do like my punch bowls to be an eye full, this one is a strong contender in my search. It’s $93, which seems like a fair price, but it doesn’t come with the stand. Adding the foot will bring the total up to around $132. It’s definitely worth considering.
Something like this Pineapple Punch Bowl from the Smith Glass Company (right) is what I’ve been looking for. I mean, a pineapple design–how on earth could I pass that up? It is $179, but I think it’s probably worth it considering all the years of stylish entertaining that it will bring. The cups are $11.99 each.
I hadn’t even considered a milk glass punch bowl, but this one by Anchor Hocking-Cryst (left) is a beauty. I love the gold rim and the grape design. It’s only $47, and the cups, each of which have a bunch of grapes design, are $5.99 each. More than the price, though, it’s the vintage feel that tempts me. I think it would be a major hit in the circles I run in.
Target has this 8-Piece Festival Punch Bowl Set (right) for a mere $39.99. It holds an impressive 14 qts., and includes 6 cups and a ladle. It’s rather simple, but it’s attractive. The description says it’s hand crafted, but I wonder about the breakability factor since its so cheap.
