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Lot Essay
The John Philip Kassebaum Collection, sold Sotheby's London, 7 October 1992, included a closely similar example, lot 15. This example, formerly in the Morgan Collection is illustrated by Michael Archer and Brian Morgan, Fair as China Dishes, English Delftware, From the Collection of Mrs. Marion Morgan and Brian Morgan, International Exhibitions Foundation 1977-79, Exhibition Catalogue, Washington, 1977, no. 5.
Although it has been traditionally suggested that these were used at drinking sessions where the conjoined cups would be passed round and shared with fellow drinkers, it seems extremely unlikely that each vessel could be filled with liquid at the same time as it would inevitably be spilt. There has been a suggestion that the liquids were mixed between the vessels, this is unlikely as there is no connection between them. The solution perhaps is that that one vessel could be filled at a time, the contents drunk and the vessel then passed on to be refilled and the whole process repeated. However these curious objects were used, their name suggests an opportunity to over indulge and hence a state of 'befuddlement' was the most likely outcome.
Although it has been traditionally suggested that these were used at drinking sessions where the conjoined cups would be passed round and shared with fellow drinkers, it seems extremely unlikely that each vessel could be filled with liquid at the same time as it would inevitably be spilt. There has been a suggestion that the liquids were mixed between the vessels, this is unlikely as there is no connection between them. The solution perhaps is that that one vessel could be filled at a time, the contents drunk and the vessel then passed on to be refilled and the whole process repeated. However these curious objects were used, their name suggests an opportunity to over indulge and hence a state of 'befuddlement' was the most likely outcome.