Punch bowl, part of a presentation wine set presented to Captain W. Milne of the 'Brunswick' 1795.

Silver bowl on a spreading foot, engraved below the rim with a band of paterae, interspersed with bunches of grapes, acorns, pears, pineapples and pinks on a hatched ground, and beneath it a band of vine leaves. The main body of the bowl is engraved with four oval reserves linked by floral garlands.

Two reserves enclose navigational instruments and nautical trophies, one shows a ship partially dismasted and flying her ensign upside down as a distress signal, and the fourth is inscribed: 'Presented by the Underwriters of London, Glasgow, Greenock and Newcastle to CAPTAIN MILNE; In Honor of his Sufferings, & exemplary Perseverance in conducting the BRUNSWICK in the most Perilous state from Fayal to Lisbon, 1795'.

The ship 'Brunswick' of 624 tons was built at Greenock in 1791. She was armed with 16 nine pounders and two three pounders. Owned by Hunter & Company, she was used mainly as a coastal transport. Lloyd's List for 24 April 1795 reported that the 'Brunswick' had arrived at Fayal in the Azores on her way to Portsmouth from Halifax with 13 feet of water in her hold, having sprung a leak at sea after a gale. Being unable to unload the ship, Captain Milne took on extra hands and proceeded to Lisbon. On 25 April she reached Lisbon and eventually on 6 October arrived at Portsmouth.

It is part of a set with a salver (PLT0086), and goblets (PLT0087, PLT0088).