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mug with holes

updated mon 30 jun 97

 

Leddi Koch on fri 27 jun 97

As I was browsing through my favorite thrift shop today, I came across a mug
that was similar to one that was written up in either Ceramics Monthly or
Clay Times. I have back tracked looking for that article but can't find
it...thought maybe somebody would know where to locate it.
The mug is wheel thrown, about 7-8 inches high, with a hollowed out lip and
handle. The actual mug has holes below the lip which makes it impossible to
actually drink out of. I remember the article described how to make one of
these and, I think, also how to actually drink out of it. I can't remember
the specific name of the style mug but was hoping that someone on this
wonderful list may know where I could locate this article. Thanks for any
info.

Jennifer Boyer on sat 28 jun 97

That article is in the October 96 issue of CM on page 95. Notice who was
doing the demo on how to make them..... :-)

>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>As I was browsing through my favorite thrift shop today, I came across a mug
>that was similar to one that was written up in either Ceramics Monthly or
>Clay Times. I have back tracked looking for that article but can't find
>it...thought maybe somebody would know where to locate it.
>The mug is wheel thrown, about 7-8 inches high, with a hollowed out lip and
>handle. The actual mug has holes below the lip which makes it impossible to
>actually drink out of. I remember the article described how to make one of
>these and, I think, also how to actually drink out of it. I can't remember
>the specific name of the style mug but was hoping that someone on this
>wonderful list may know where I could locate this article. Thanks for any
>info.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Jennifer Boyer
Thistle Hill Pottery
Montpelier, Vt. 05602
jboyer@plainfield.bypass.com

The Allens on sat 28 jun 97

I think the mug you are talking about is the =22Puzzle Mug=22...There's an =
article in Cermanics Monthly , Oct. 96 on how to make them. Hope this =
helps.

Carla Allen
ridgerun=40scrtc.blue.net


----------
From: Leddi Koch=5BSMTP:Leddi=40aol.com=5D
Sent: Friday, June 27, 1997 8:21 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list CLAYART
Subject: Mug with holes

----------------------------Original message----------------------------
As I was browsing through my favorite thrift shop today, I came across a mug
that was similar to one that was written up in either Ceramics Monthly or
Clay Times. I have back tracked looking for that article but can't find
it...thought maybe somebody would know where to locate it.
The mug is wheel thrown, about 7-8 inches high, with a hollowed out lip and
handle. The actual mug has holes below the lip which makes it impossible to
actually drink out of. I remember the article described how to make one of
these and, I think, also how to actually drink out of it. I can't remember
the specific name of the style mug but was hoping that someone on this
wonderful list may know where I could locate this article. Thanks for any
info.

Teresa Murphy(TMurphy889@aol.com) on sat 28 jun 97

Don't know about the article, but the hollow lip and handle should act as a
straw.
Any small holes, look under handle especially, cover with your fingers and
suck as you would with a straw. This is strange, I just saw a show on
puzzles and one of these vessels was featured.
Teresa

Cindy on sat 28 jun 97

Leddie,

The type mug you're talking about dates back to the middle ages and is
called a puzzle mug. If a drunken guild member could figure it out, I'm
sure you can, too , but just to be nice I'll 'splain it. The handle is
hollow--made from a clay "donut" thrown on the wheel. If I remember
correctly, the rim is also hollow. Its space is connected to the space in
the handle. The rim is pierced in a number of places which must be covered
with fingers in order to create the vacuum necessary to drink through the
hole in the top of the handle. You gets your beer through the hole in the
bottom of the stein that opens into the bottom of the handle. Seems to me
it'd be a real treat to clean that mug--you'd have to refire it each time
you had a party, just to burn the beer out of the innards.

I remember that CM article, and it came out just before the big Buffalo
Round-up here in Custer SD. (No, really.) I believe that's in August--maybe
September.

Cindy Strnad

Paula Offutt on sat 28 jun 97

What you have found is what is known as a "Puzzle Jug". It is folk art.
They are useable in 2 ways that I know of. For some, only one of the
"spouts" along the top is open. Suck on that (like a straw) and the
liquid comes up the hollow handle from the bottom. Others work by closing
the the other holes with your finger tips and sucking on the second one.
I am not familiar with the article you mentioned but there is a book,
"The Potter's Project Book" by Peter Cosentino that has the Puzzle Jug as
on of the projects. The jugs are usually inscribed with a poem like: 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."

Anyhow, that is what I know of it. I have always wanted to make one.
Maybe this is the incentive, eh?

Paula in Western North Carolina, still raining (or threatening to), still
semi-hot, still waiting for the sun to show itself in a clear sky that I
have not seen in months.

>From: Leddi Koch
>Subject: Mug with holes

>As I was browsing through my favorite thrift shop today, I came across a
>mug that was similar to one that was written up in either Ceramics
>Monthly or Clay Times. I have back tracked looking for that article but
>can't find it...thought maybe somebody would know where to locate it.
>The mug is wheel thrown, about 7-8 inches high, with a hollowed out lip
>and handle. The actual mug has holes below the lip which makes it
>impossible to actually drink out of. I remember the article described
>how to make one of these and, I think, also how to actually drink out of
>it. I can't remember the specific name of the style mug but was hoping
>that someone on this wonderful list may know where I could locate this
>article. Thanks for any info.

Paul Jay - Little Creek Fine Arts-Harmony, PA on sun 29 jun 97

Leddi Koch wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> As I was browsing through my favorite thrift shop today, I came across a mug
> that was similar to one that was written up in either Ceramics Monthly or
> Clay Times. I have back tracked looking for that article but can't find
> it...thought maybe somebody would know where to locate it.
> The mug is wheel thrown, about 7-8 inches high, with a hollowed out lip and
> handle. The actual mug has holes below the lip which makes it impossible to
> actually drink out of. I remember the article described how to make one of
> these and, I think, also how to actually drink out of it. I can't remember
> the specific name of the style mug but was hoping that someone on this
> wonderful list may know where I could locate this article. Thanks for any
> info.
Leddi
The mug you refer to was (as far as I know) made first in England in the
17th and 18th cent. by potters as a Pub joke. You would offer your mate
a pint and then watch while he tried to figure out how to drink it.
I've seen some good examples in museums in England and in some books on
English Pottery. The trick is that the handle is hollow so you actually
drink from the bottom of the mug like you would with a straw.
CM has an index that you can access through your local library PERIOICAL
PUBLISHER'S guide, or just call CM for help. I've always found them
more than willing to look stuff up for me, but I haven't tried with the
new owners. Good luck and happy potting.

stevemills on sun 29 jun 97

The mug you refer to is a Puzzle Jug, one of the oldest potters' jokes
known. The handle is hollow and there should be piercings or small
spouts in the hollow rim. The most common number that I've seen was 5 of
which two were "blind" and the others working. The trick is to block 2
of the holes with your fingers and suck on the 3rd, thus drawing the
contents up the handle into your mouth. They are great fun to make.
The other potters' joke is/are the fuddling cup(s): a group of 3 or 5 or
more mugs all joined together and interlinked through the bases so that
by drinking from one you drink from all of them!!
Steve

In message , Leddi Koch writes
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>As I was browsing through my favorite thrift shop today, I came across a mug
>that was similar to one that was written up in either Ceramics Monthly or
>Clay Times. I have back tracked looking for that article but can't find
>it...thought maybe somebody would know where to locate it.
>The mug is wheel thrown, about 7-8 inches high, with a hollowed out lip and
>handle. The actual mug has holes below the lip which makes it impossible to
>actually drink out of. I remember the article described how to make one of
>these and, I think, also how to actually drink out of it. I can't remember
>the specific name of the style mug but was hoping that someone on this
>wonderful list may know where I could locate this article. Thanks for any
>info.
>

--
Steve Mills
@Bath Potters Supplies
Dorset Close
Bath
BA2 3RF
UK
Tel:(44) (0)1225 337046
Fax:(44) (0)1225 462712

Helllll on sun 29 jun 97

the article was in "ceramics monthly" i'm trying to find it now.....
it is a puzzle mug most likely it has three holes,,, the idea is to
cover two holes with your finger tips and suck out to the third one like a
straw.....

the mug is thrown with a hollow lip with holes added to it... the handle
should also be hollow... leading from the bottom of the mug to the hollow
lip acting like a straw.... so when you have friends over fill it with
beer and see who can drink out of it with out dribbling...

hank