Trick and puzzle glasses were designed with the intent of deceiving the person drinking from them and making the consumption of their contents a challenge or even a practical joke. These mischievous cups have an aspect to them that makes their usage difficult such as hidden holes or rounded bottoms.
Amusing examples of glassblowing, trick glass...were designed to be as difficult as possible to drink from without spilling the alcoholic beverage within. The goal of this exercise was to amuse the onlookers at the expense of the drinker." - Catharine Hess and Timothy Husband
In drinking competitions, any drinker who spilled wine was required to start again with a full glass. Attached are some lists of resources for you that should help you in your quest for knowledge of trick goblets.
Additional Resources
- Corning Museum of Glass - Glass Dictionary - Trick Glasses
- Examples of Glass in Corning Museum of Glass Collection
Learn More:
- Dreisbach, Fritz. “Tricks with Fritz: A Survey of Rare Historical Glasses.” The Glass Art Society Journal, 2017.
- Kreuger, Ingeborg. “Stretchable Glasses. A Forgotten Type of Trick Glass.” Glass News, 2019.
- Laméris, Kitty., and Marc. Barreda. Trick Glasses. Devious Drinking Devices /. nai010, 2023.
Links & Files
- I have seen new "reticello" goblets without air bubbles in the glass between the bands - is this a new technique? Opens in new window
- When did the martini glass first appear? When did a pint glass with a bulge on the top 1/4 of the glass appear? Opens in new window
- I am researching the history of glass sex toys Opens in new window
- What information do you have on glass dresses and glass textiles? Opens in new window
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