Bishop-bowl

A bishop-bowl is a unique punch bowl crafted from faience, designed to resemble a bishop's mitre. This charming piece of tableware was highly popular in Denmark and Schleswig-Holstein during the 18th and 19th centuries. The bowl was used to serve a favored alcoholic drink called "bishop" named for its deep violet hue, reminiscent of a bishop's robes. The drink's popularity inspired the creation of these distinctive bowls, often sculpted to resemble a bishop's hat or even a bishop himself.

The tradition of making bishop-bowls in Denmark began at the Store Kongensgade Faience Manufactury in Copenhagen, which opened in 1722 as the country’s first faience producer. The classic "bishop" drink consists of red wine, bitter orange, common orange (both zest and juice), and sugar. Occasionally, rum is added for a richer flavor and extended shelf life. Recipes for this festive drink appear in many 19th-century cookbooks.

If you are curious to see these historical artifacts, early bishop-bowls from the Store Kongensgade Faience Manufactury are on display at The David Collection in Copenhagen and the Museum of National History at Frederiksborg Castle in Hillerød. You can also find bishop-bowls from a manufacturer in Schleswig at St. Anne's Museum in Lübeck. Den Gamle By museum houses a particularly intriguing bishop-bowl shaped like a seated bishop, crafted in Kellinghusen, Holstein, around 1770.

In 1970, Denmark even issued a postage stamp featuring a drawing of a bishop-bowl, created by artist Claus Achton Friis, highlighting the cultural significance of this quaint historical piece.