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Puzzle bottle

16th–17th century
Not on view
Crossing class boundaries and spanning centuries, drinking games remain enduringly popular. At the opposite end of the spectrum from the refined Diana automaton displayed nearby, this puzzle bottle for the low end of the market provided slapstick entertainment: the puzzle involves deciding which spout to drink from without getting showered from the others. Its decorative coloration was simply and quickly achieved by spattering multiple glazes against the bottle before firing.

[Elizabeth Cleland, 2017]

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Puzzle bottle
  • Date: 16th–17th century
  • Culture: French
  • Medium: Lead-glazed earthenware
  • Dimensions: Overall: 10 × 9 in. (25.4 × 22.9 cm)
  • Classification: Ceramics-Pottery
  • Credit Line: Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
  • Object Number: 17.194.2213
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

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