Svafnir Thorvaldson — Puzzle Jug

Name: Svafnir Thorvaldson

Location: Shire of Quintavia

East Kingdom Wiki: https://wiki.eastkingdom.org/wiki/Svafnir_Thorvaldson

Category: Ceramics

This puzzle jug features numerous holes and openings around the lip of the cup, preventing the user from tipping the cup to drink normally. These jugs were intended to prank people and were likely a way to show off the technical and artistic skills required to make them.  There are numerous examples of similar puzzle jugs from late 1500’s through 1600’s, often with inscriptions daring the user to attempt to drink.  The trick of the puzzle jug is a hollow channel that runs around the lip of the cup, through the handle and into the bottom of the jug. There are multiple holes in the channel, so the user must suck the liquid through one hole and block the extra holes.  Most historical puzzle jugs had beautifully intricate glaze and lots of aesthetic details, possibly to further disguise the solution to the puzzle. I made a simpler version with a modern glaze to prototype the puzzle mechanism.