Puzzle Cup

This cup's clever construction allows for an alternative, "puzzling" way to drink. There is a hole in each of the knobs on top of the three handles, only one of which is connected to the cup's interior. The skillful drinker must figure out which of the knob's holes can be used as a type of straw, as well as locating an additional hole in the cup's double-walled interior that must be covered to prevent the cup's contents from spilling on the drinker.

Both practical and playful, British drinking vessels came in many forms and sizes. Fermented beverages such as wine and ale provided a safe alternative to the often unsafe water supplies of 17th- and 18th-century towns. Ale was served at all meals and consumed by all strata and ages of society in mugs or drunk convivially in a large tankard, such as the delftware example in this case. Also popular, wine from France, Spain, Portugal and Italy was stored in casks and decanted into bottles for serving. Cleverly crafted fuddling cups and puzzle cups added amusement and skill to the drinking experience.