What-is-it question CII.

[2209patrick]

This 17th century German vessel has silver mounts and lid (not marked).
The stoneware is typical of a type produced in the potteries of Siegburg, northeast of Bonn (white ware with a thin salt glaze).
It is 8 inches (20.4 cm.) high.

What is unusual about this vessel?
What is it called?



Pat.
.

[2209patrick]

Here's a clue: those black ovals on the neck are holes.

Pat.
.

[dognose]

Hi Pat,

I think they are called puzzle cups, it is not possible to drink from them in the normal fashion as the beer would run through the holes when the cup was tilted, the answer is placement of the fingertips over two of the pipes whilst sucking through the other pipe, but it will still not work until a third fingertip is placed over a small hole hidden in the handle.
Or have I got it completley wrong?!!

Regards Trev.
.

[2209patrick]

Hi Trev.

You have got it right. It's called a "Puzzle Jug".
The handle is hollow and acts like a straw. It leads to one of the pipes issuing from the neck.
With this particular puzzle jug the liquid is drawn up while closing a small aperture beneath the upper junction in the handle.

Pat.
.