One thing I love about old glass is the history. I recently acquired a punch bowl that was made over 100 years ago in Philadelphia. So, how did it wind up hundreds of miles away here in Maine? And who owned it along the way?

Did it start its life as a gift for a young bride and groom? Was it displayed proudly year round or brought out only for special occasions? I sometimes close my eyes and imagine a holiday table with this sparking punch bowl in the center. It doesn't really matter what the beverage was, anything served in this punch bowl was special. The room is filled with the aroma of fresh baked bread as family members gather around for the celebration. Adults have quiet conversations, and children delight in playing with rarely seen cousins. “Careful! - no running in the house.”

I often wonder about the homes this punch bowl has graced, and the lives of the people it has served. As the children grew, moved away, started families of their own, did they abandon the old traditions and start new ones?

So what does the future hold for this beautiful punch bowl? Will it sit with other antiques on display? Or be part of new family traditions? Where will it be 100 years from now? Only time will tell.

Donnah Brnger
Mainely Glass on Ruby Lane
http://www.rubylane.com/shops/mainelyglass