Ahh, interesting. I agree that the item is indeed a nose bowl for horse feed, I’ve painted a good few over many years. Quite how it ended up in Norfolk I’ve no idea, it’s a long way from the canal system where it was used....but I have found painted ware in Cornwall, much further away!
I’m afraid I can’t identify the painter, it’s no one whose work I’ve seen before. Looking at it, it is certainly by a competent and experienced painter, the floral work in the Braunston style, Braunston was an important canal village, producing several noted paintersoover many years. By the look of the ageing, it could well date back to working days, or perhaps painted by someone in the early days of pleasure boating some 69/70 years ago, it’s difficult to tell. Either way, a lovely piece of old canal ware that deserves preservation, possibly as part of a collection. If you are thinking of letting it go, I may be interested, I’ve lots of old stuff here at home. If you prefer to keep it, I suggest a very gentle clean with water and then a coat or two of artist’s picture varnish to enhance the colours again and preserve the existing paint. Best I can do, I’m afraid.
Dave