ABSTRACT
Puzzle vessels are a popular curiosity around the world. They have been found in at least 24 countries and five or more ancient cultures, including those of Canaan, Greece, Phoenicia, Egypt, and Turkey. John Rausch (creator of the Puzzle World web site) calls them “the oldest known mechanical puzzles.” While the author knows of over 30 museums in the world that own puzzle vessels, there are only a few with Chinese puzzle vessels, and none have more than a few examples.
