Late 19th Century English Antique Earthenware Puzzle Jug Dated “1887”

A late 19th Century English antique treacle-glazed puzzle jug with an inlaid slipware inscription and date of “1887”.

The inscription reads “Gentlemen now try your skill I’ll lay you sixpence if you will drink out of this without a spill.”

A puzzle jug is a puzzle in the form of a jug, popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. Puzzle jugs of varying quality were popular in homes and taverns. An inscription typically challenges the drinker to consume the contents without spilling them, which is impossible to do conventionally because the neck of the jug is perforated.

The solution to the puzzle is that the jug has a hidden tube, one end of which is the spout. The tube usually runs around the rim and down the handle, with its other opening inside the jug and near the bottom. To solve the puzzle, the drinker must suck from the spout end of the tube. To make the puzzle more interesting, it was common to provide a number of additional holes along the tube, which must be closed off before the contents could be sucked. Some jugs even have a hidden hole to make the challenge even more confounding!

Provenance – Unknown.

Condition – No traces of restoration. Please refer to the images. A further detailed condition report is available upon request.

Size – Height 17 cm (6 3/4″)