Many films use a similar trope when it comes to poisoning. The aspiring murderer ingests a drink poured from the same vessel as that given to their intended victim to indicate the liquid is safe to imbibe. The Assassin’s Teapot is a way one could achieve such a ruse, allowing two different liquids to be poured from what is seemingly a regular teapot, as shown by [Steve Mould]. (Video after the break.)
The trick is simple. Two separate cavities exist within the teapot, exiting via their own paths in the same spout. Each cavity also has an air hole in the top. If the hole for a given cavity is blocked by the pourer’s thumb, the liquid will not flow.
Each cavity can be filled with its own liquid. For example, one can be filled with tea, the other with poisoned tea. The murderer blocks the hole for the poison cavity when pouring their own beverage, delivering tea to their own glass. Then, when pouring for the enemy, the hole for the tea cavity is blocked, and poison is allowed to flow into the glass of one’s target.
The workings are simple; if air cannot flow into the cavity of the teapot to replace liquid flowing out, air pressure will stop the liquid flowing at all. The concept is demonstrated ably by [Steve]’s 2D recreation, letting us visualize the workings of the teapot quite easily.
It also shows a minor flaw in the design, which should be accounted for – if the spout isn’t designed carefully, sometimes flow from one cavity can dribble into the other. Between this and the chance of getting confused about which hole to cover to pour the poison, it would pay to keep some antidote on hand. Or, alternatively, just pour your guests tea instead – they’ll appreciate it!
We’ve seen [Steve] explore similarly interesting liquid vessels before too, such as this simple breakdown of the workings of the Gluggle Jug.
A way to have tea sweet or black from the same pot, or a mix.
Some consider fake chemical “sugar” a poison.
How would you like your tea, sugar or poison sir?
Considering how many people sugar has killed (mind you, very slowly due to overconsumption,) the options become fast poison or slow poison.
yeah, but you are not suppose to use any sugar or other sweetener for tea or coffee, sugar goes only to cakes and such
Yeesh. What puritanical spoilsport made up that rule?
Next thing you know it will be Frowned Upon to put Irish whiskey in coffee.
Egads! Don’t scare me like that!
I only disapprove of that because hot coffee (or tea) will evaporate some of the alcohol, wasting it. I recommend a seperate glass for your morning whiskey
Cool story, bro. But it presumes that the teapot aside from the holes and the spouts is airtight. How do you get the tea into the pot?
Cork lid, silicone gasket
The flagon with the dragon holds the brew that is true.
Through the holes?
“How do you get the tea into the pot?”
The same way you pour it… except you dip it in the liquid to fill it. The air pressure keeps the poison or tea out of one chamber while filling the other. The actual poison used wasn’t likely to be potent which is why the chamber is so large.
This was a real thing.
There’s a surprising number of substances that are toxic at a certain amount but harmless or even beneficial in smaller amounts. Many vitamins fit that description.
Seems overly complex. Put the poison in a tube with one finger cappable end, and one near the end of the spout. Then pour either just tea (poison tube capped) or tea+poison (tube open.)
Free hot beverages for everyone!
Contact me.
Thanks Sheldon
always switch cups after the host has poured them, unless you always switch cups, then don’t.
Inconceivable !!
Thank you..
I have not thought of that Movie in a long time..
Cap
+1 internets to you, sir. That gave me a good chuckle.
They were both poisoned. I spent the last few years building up an immunity to iocaine powder.
Hmm … that does not look like a regular tea pot.
A tea pot has an opening (spout?) that is more or less horizontal when the pot stands put on the table – not vertical. With a “real” tea pot opening you would immediately see the two “leads” from different containers inside the pot.
I guess it might work in a movie … but then, in a movie the tea pot would probably self-combust anyway after it’s been used, so it doesn’t really matter.
Yes, I will immediately become suspicious if someone is pouring me a drink from a teapot shaped like an oriental philosopher!
shutup and take my money, no really? where can i buy one of these.
As far as I know Grand illusions is the only reseller who has them, they are expensive, backordered and hard to fill here is the link. https://www.grand-illusions.com/assassin-s-teapot-c2x21140265
I have one. 3d printed. Can you do at least $100?
The word you’re looking for in the title is “mischievous”.
https://writingexplained.org/mischievous-or-mischievious-spelling
Well, in OZ there is a no such word for “dictionnary”
Do Aussies have another word for thesaurus?
You are technically correct, the best kind of correct.
I designed one myself that addresses a couple issues mentioned here.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5167663
Reminds me a bit of the Pythagorean (Greedy) cup. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_cup