Explore the Joke Glass

Read About the Joke Glass

Start by reading the following description of the artwork above.

Imagine a cup that’s also a playful puzzle—that’s exactly what the Joke Glass is! This funny-looking cup is like a 400-year-old riddle waiting to be solved. It’s not just any cup; it’s a cup that makes drinking an amusing adventure!

In this artwork, you’ll meet a little man dressed in fancy clothes, and believe it or not, he’s not just a fancy man—he’s a cup! He is also holding a little metal sword and looking all serious, but the real fun begins when you try to figure out how to drink from him. Look closely, and you’ll notice a hole in his nose—that’s where the magic happens! But there’s also a tricky seam around his neck, and if you’re not careful, you might spill your drink. The secret? There’s a straw hidden in his chest! You have to sip from his nose like you’re enjoying a tasty milkshake.

Back in the 17th century, German or Netherlandish people used this Joke Glass to turn something ordinary, like drinking, into a game full of laughter. It’s like a treasure from the past that makes us wonder: Why don’t we have fun cups like this today?

Look closely at the Joke Glass.

• Can you explain how to drink out of it?
• Is there a cup today that resembles this glass? What are the similarities?

A time period that lasted from the year 1600 to the year 1699. It’s a long time ago, over 400 years in the past! During the 17th century, people lived differently than they do now, and they had different kinds of clothes, tools, and ways of doing things.

Dressed or decorated in a special or stylish way. In the text, the little man is described as being dressed in fancy clothes, meaning he looks very nice and elegant.

A line where two pieces of material are sewn or joined together. In the text, there’s a tricky seam around the cup’s neck, which means there’s a line where two parts of the cup are connected.

A thin tube used for drinking liquids. In the text, there’s a straw hidden in the cup’s chest that you can use to drink from it.

Something valuable or special that is worth finding or keeping. In the text, the Joke Glass is described as a treasure from the past because it’s a unique and interesting item that people used to have fun with.