 The punchbowls can be considered a harlequin pair as they are similar but not exactly matching . They are both Chinese ceramics ware of Cantonese origin , made of clear glaze on hard @-@ paste porcelain and painted with polychrome famille rose <unk> enamel and gilding . They are similar in size , each approximately 45 cm ( 18 in ) in diameter , 17 cm ( 6 @.@ 7 in ) high and weighing about 5 @.@ 4 kg ( 12 lb ) , footring 2 @.@ 5 cm ( 1 in ) high and 22 @.@ 5 cm ( 8 @.@ 9 in ) in diameter . Whilst the indigenous Australian groups painted within the inner centre of both bowls are identical , the outer panoramic views of Sydney Cove are not . The Library punchbowl has a view from the eastern side of Sydney Cove whilst the view on the Museum bowl is from Dawes Point on the western shore . This pairing follows a standard convention in late 18th @-@ and early 19th @-@ century topographical art of painting two views of the same scene from opposite vantage points . 
