What is a punch bowl used for?

They held mixed alcoholic drinks for communal serving at social gatherings. The host would ladle the punch into smaller individual cups for the guests. Large examples often became the centrepiece of a table. Men's clubs and affluent households kept them ready for long evenings of drinking and conversation.

I have this heavy wooden bowl that my grandmother used for making dough and I was wondering if it needs oiling to stop it cracking?

Wooden bowls dry out when kept in modern heated homes. A food-safe mineral oil helps feed the timber and keeps the surface supple. Apply a light coat with a cloth and let it soak in overnight. Wipe away any excess the next morning. Never leave them soaking in water or put them near a direct heat source. That forces the grain to expand and contract too quickly, leading to splits.

Can you serve food in them?

Some materials are safe for food while others are better kept for display. Glazed ceramics and silver are generally fine for dry goods or fruit. Acidic foods can react badly with copper or brass. If the interior glaze on an earthenware piece is heavily crazed, moisture can seep into the porous clay body.

My friend said that you should never clean old silver bowls with standard polish because it ruins the finish, so how should I wash mine?

A simple wash in warm soapy water with a soft cloth removes everyday dust and grease. Dry it immediately with a soft towel to prevent water spots forming on the metal. Mild silver dips or wadding can tackle heavy tarnish. Abrasive polishes do slowly wear away the surface layer of silver over the decades, especially on raised decoration.

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Antique bowls span simple turned wooden vessels for everyday pottage to highly decorated ceramic and silver centrepieces designed to display wealth on the dining table.

19th century

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