In my archive of pots from way-back, but unfinished, is this puzzle jug. Ever since potters began to play with clay, they were playing tricks too. A puzzle jug challenges the drinker to drink the contents without spilling, or lose a wager. This one says "Here Gentlemen, come try your skill, I'll hold a wager if you will, That you can't drink this liquor all, without you spill, or let some fall."
If you tip it as normal to your lips, there are pierced holes that will spill. The clue is in those spouts along the rim. The rim is tubular, as is the handle....... But you still have to contend with a number of holes that have to be stopped with fingertips before you can suck the liquid up.
I wish my lettering was neater. Ummm, on the other hand I'm inordinately proud that I managed to make a pulled handle that works.... It took a lot of experimenting before I got it right.
If you tip it as normal to your lips, there are pierced holes that will spill. The clue is in those spouts along the rim. The rim is tubular, as is the handle....... But you still have to contend with a number of holes that have to be stopped with fingertips before you can suck the liquid up.
I wish my lettering was neater. Ummm, on the other hand I'm inordinately proud that I managed to make a pulled handle that works.... It took a lot of experimenting before I got it right.
These are from the nineteenth century. Buckley, Flintshire, Wales.
Denholme, Yorkshire.
Liverpool, tin-glazed, 19th century.
cool... it's funny that the joke was so good that a tradition grew around it.
ReplyDeleteThese is amazing :D i'd love to have some beer in this. And it's uber cool that you made one yourself! kudos man!
ReplyDeleteN
As usual I looked and didn't read. Then went back to read, because I was going to ask - how do you pour from one of those things without spilling ... duh. I like the Welsh ones especially. When are you going to finish that gift ??? I see a wheel in your future .....
ReplyDeletexxx
rdm
Those are interesting. I'd never heard of puzzle jugs before. The world is so full of fascinating things, how can anyone ever possibly be bored?
ReplyDeleteThanks to all of you;
ReplyDeleteJim, There are so many of these jokes, another common one, back in the 16th century, maybe it existed earlier.. was to make a pot with a hole in it. When you hand it, full, to the unsuspecting victim, your finger is over the hole... moments later, he's wondering why his shirt is soaked.
Nothingman, I've made quite a few over the years, they do make a good talking point in the pub!
Red Dirt Mule, I think they make joke mule-troughs too, I'll see if I can get you one for the paddock. -One wheel on my wagon, and I'm still rollin' along, Them cherokees are after me but I'm singin'... a haaaaappy song!...
Lynn, The world is indeed full of fascinating things. Um. I'm bored.
Ha! Watch this space, in a while (months, years,), I may come up with another one. Mind you, one person's fascinating may be another's deathly boring. It's hard to know what will or will not interest others.
well ... one wheel is better than no wheel, my friend. i mean, playing with one's wheel is always fun. in fact, at the red dirt barn, we highly ENCOURAGE our farm friends to play with their wheel. keeps 'em happy.
ReplyDeleteand not bored.
snickering,
rdm
At least one correspondent is confused by my one wheel on my wagon quote.
ReplyDeleteIt was a song... Back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, but it gets popped up every now and then, i recall it backing sone commercial for beans, or burgers or something....
Burt Bacharach / Bob Hilliard, The New Christy Minstrels had a huge hit with it in 1965. Lead singer was Barry McGuire, who also had a hit with the hugely different protest son "Eve of Destruction", also recorded in '65.
Three wheels on my wagon,
And I’m still rolling along
The Cherokees are chasing me
Arrows fly, right on by
But I’m singing a happy song
I’m singing a higgity, haggity, hoggety, high
Pioneers, they never say die
A mile up the road there’s a hidden cave
And we can watch those Cherokees
Go galloping by
SPOKEN: “George, they’re catching up to us!”
“Get back in the wagon woman!”
Two wheels on my wagon,
And I’m still rolling along
Them Cherokees are after me
Flaming spears, burn my ears
But I’m singing a happy song
I’m singing a higgity, haggity hoggety, high
Pioneers, they never say die
Half a mile up the road there’s a hidden cave
And we can watch those Cherokees
Go galloping by
SPOKEN: “Duh, Paw? Are you sure this is the right road?”
“Will you hush up? You and your maps!”
One wheel on my wagon,
And I’m still rolling along
Them Cherokees after me
I’m all in flames, at the reins
But I’m singing a happy song
I’m singing a higgity, haggity hoggety, high
Pioneers, they never say die
Right around that turn there’s a hidden cave
And we can watch those Cherokees
Go galloping by
SPOKEN: “George? Should I get the bag of beads and trinkets?”
“Woman, I know what I’m doing!”
No wheels on my wagon,
So I’m not rolling along
The Cherokees captured me
They look mad, things look bad
But I’m singing a happy song
SPOKEN: “C’mon all you Cherokees sing along with me!”
Higgity, haggity hoggety, high
Pioneers, they never say die…
Ahhhhh..... thanks for the clarity. Though, it doesn't change the fact that my farm friends are having an agreeable time playing with their ONE wheels. And a happy time.
ReplyDeletesigh. this happens when a blogger serves up something from the past: the far far far away past when this mule was barely walking - not quite a yearling even .... no point of reference for my generation. not even a burger / bean commercial to roll us along.
maybe you could rate your posts like movies rate content: general audience; mature audience ... snickering !!!!!
xxx
rdm
ps. i am definitely NOT BORED watching all this wheel play around the barnyard .....