Lot Essay
The idea of a 'puzzle' jug, intended as a joke, originated in Germany in the sixteenth century. The shape of these jugs derived from Westerwald stoneware jugs, which were popular in Holland in the second half of the seventeenth century; puzzle jugs were made in delftware from about 1660. See J. D. van Dam, Dated Dutch Delftware, for two very similarly shaped puzzle jugs to the present lot in the Rijksmusem, Amsterdam, one of which is dated 1758 and the other 1768. See also Ethnographic Objects in The Royal Danish Kunstkammer 1650-1800, p.162, fig. EBc157, for a blue and white puzzle jug bought from Canton on the Kronprins Christian in 1732 and now in the National Museum, Copenhagen. Compare also the famille rose Canton enamel puzzle jug and cover of similar shape, sold in these Rooms, 6 November 1995, lot 201.