Meriden Punch Bowl

You can do a lot of things with a punch bowl besides simply serving punch at a party. Use it to hold fresh fruit or fill it up with water to showcase floating candles. You can also fill it with decorative objects or dried or silk flowers. On 1stDibs, find a selection of antique and vintage punch bowls.

To tell if your punch bowl is crystal, hold it up to the sunlight. If you can see a rainbow prism of color, this indicates crystal. If not, the bowl is glass. You can shop a range of antique and vintage crystal pieces on 1stDibs.

You can tell if a punch bowl is real crystal by holding it up to the light. The lead will give it a refractive quality. An authentic crystal punch bowl will sparkle in the light—the more lead it contains, the more it will sparkle. Shop a collection of crystal punch bowls from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

A punch bowl spoon is called a ladle. A ladle typically will have a hook at the end of the handle to help prevent it from slipping into the punch bowl between uses. It may also have a spout at one side of the dipper to allow for precise pours. Find a selection of vintage and contemporary ladles on 1stDibs.

To find out if antique silver punch bowls are worth anything, experts recommend that you consult a certified appraiser. Antique silver punch bowls can be highly sought after and valuable, depending on a variety of factors like how well they are cared for, their origin and maker. Often called the “Queen of metals,” silver has been universally adored for thousands of years. It is easy to see why it has always been sought after: It is durable, strong and beautiful. (Louis XIV had tables made entirely of silver.) Sterling silver is an alloy that is made of 92.5 percent silver — the “925” stamp that identifies sterling-silver jewelry refers to this number. The other 7.5 percent in sterling silver is typically sourced from copper. Although resources can help you find information about a particular piece, an experienced professional is in the best position to determine the value. On 1stDibs, find an assortment of punch bowls.