Learning through objects from the Islington Education Library Service’s handling collection
Puzzle Jug, Tudor, Replica
In Tudor times, water was too dirty, and therefore too dangerous,
to drink. Beer was the popular drink, and this clay jug was used
for beer drinking - but only if the puzzle was solved.
After being hand thrown or built, the jug was given a blue glaze and fired. The glaze has been hand painted onto the jug with a broad brush. The jug is inscribed with the words:
From this pot to drink one must think! Solve my riddle, pray and drink.
The jug was filled with liquid up to the neck, which has been pierced with holes. Pouring the liquid back out of the jug is a problem because as the liquid flows over the neck it leaks out of the holes. Even if the liquid reaches the spout there are difficulties. The spout does not have an indentation with which to channel liquid. It is, in fact, part of a hollow tube which runs inside the spout, along the rim of the jug and down through the handle into the interior of the jug.
How would you drink from the jug without spilling the contents?
After being hand thrown or built, the jug was given a blue glaze and fired. The glaze has been hand painted onto the jug with a broad brush. The jug is inscribed with the words:
From this pot to drink one must think! Solve my riddle, pray and drink.
The jug was filled with liquid up to the neck, which has been pierced with holes. Pouring the liquid back out of the jug is a problem because as the liquid flows over the neck it leaks out of the holes. Even if the liquid reaches the spout there are difficulties. The spout does not have an indentation with which to channel liquid. It is, in fact, part of a hollow tube which runs inside the spout, along the rim of the jug and down through the handle into the interior of the jug.
How would you drink from the jug without spilling the contents?
Height:15.2cm
Height:15.2cm
In Tudor times, water was too dirty, and therefore too dangerous,
to drink. Beer was the popular drink, and this clay jug was used
for beer drinking - but only if the puzzle was solved.
After being hand thrown or built, the jug was given a blue glaze and fired. The glaze has been hand painted onto the jug with a broad brush. The jug is inscribed with the words:
From this pot to drink one must think! Solve my riddle, pray and drink.
The jug was filled with liquid up to the neck, which has been pierced with holes. Pouring the liquid back out of the jug is a problem because as the liquid flows over the neck it leaks out of the holes. Even if the liquid reaches the spout there are difficulties. The spout does not have an indentation with which to channel liquid. It is, in fact, part of a hollow tube which runs inside the spout, along the rim of the jug and down through the handle into the interior of the jug.
How would you drink from the jug without spilling the contents?
After being hand thrown or built, the jug was given a blue glaze and fired. The glaze has been hand painted onto the jug with a broad brush. The jug is inscribed with the words:
From this pot to drink one must think! Solve my riddle, pray and drink.
The jug was filled with liquid up to the neck, which has been pierced with holes. Pouring the liquid back out of the jug is a problem because as the liquid flows over the neck it leaks out of the holes. Even if the liquid reaches the spout there are difficulties. The spout does not have an indentation with which to channel liquid. It is, in fact, part of a hollow tube which runs inside the spout, along the rim of the jug and down through the handle into the interior of the jug.
How would you drink from the jug without spilling the contents?
Keyboard controls:
Turn left: press left arrow key; Turn right: press right arrow key;
Zoom in: press shift key; Zoom out: press control key (ctrl);
