'Impossible Bottles' - magic, art or just a nerdy pastime?
William Freeman SpeakerNet Sponsor
- Region:
- London
- Notice Period:
- Short (maybe less than one month's notice)
- Type:
- professional
- Fee:
- Paid: £80 plus travel
- Category:
- Entertainment
- Updated:
- 7th October 2025
- Tagged:
Actually, it’s all three. Since the days of a lonely seventeenth century sailor putting a model ship and memories of home inside a bottle this pastime (if you can call it that) has been exploited by artists, magicians or just nerdy folk like me.
The first bottles (‘whimsy bottles’ ) helped lonely sailors cope with being far from home. Making the bottle helped overcome boredom and the final result became a tangible companion. Many of these original items reside in museums but you can find many versions via the internet.
In the 1970s, Harry Eng, a schoolteacher and magician took this art form to the next level. He created ‘impossible bottles’, i.e. bottles with items too large to pass through their necks. He created a new artform and also a ‘cult’ with rules. These rules were very simple. Neither the bottle nor the items should be cut or modified in any way. Eng is credited with elevating his craft to an art form and a magical puzzle leaving a lasting mystery because he didn’t reveal his secrets. His principles were well known and, over the years, magicians and creative artists have evolved his craft.
This speaker will review the history and explain, step by step, how these items are made. He bends Harry’s rules (slightly) by adding a relevant photograph here and there.
Sorry Harry.
About William Freeman
PLEASE NOTE. ALL SESSIONS PERFORMED DURING REMAINDER OF 2025 ENJOY A 25% FEE REDUCTION
I am an event speaker and management skills trainer (retired) ; my company developed and ran senior management programmes for large IT companies in UK.
Over the last ten years, or so, I have been a wedding toastmaster, MC and celebrant - and performed MC work at corporate functions.
On a less serious side (although I never took my career seriously), I’ve written one business book ‘The Two Minute Message’ which puts the ‘elevator pitch myth ( and truth) in a sensible perspective. Not exactly Jeffrey Archer levels of sales but dribbles here and there - and I’ve done many business workshops on this, and other topics.
I’ve self-published four books (printed paperbacks) and ten e-books (and counting). One of my talks 'Everybody Has A Book In Them' describes my route to self-publishing and gives practical advice to aspiring writers.
I'm also a freelance cartoonist with two cartoons published in ‘Private Eye’ and thirty or so in ‘The Oldie’ over the years. and a smattering in other publications. You can see my work and cartoon book at waldorfcartoons.com . I’m a very average magician but it gives me fun ( as my wife often points out in a rather patronising manner).
I’m often available at SHORT notice, so do ask.
Other Talks on SpeakerNet by William Freeman
- Please Raise Your Glasses (confessions of a wedding day professional)
- From the clarity of the ‘Bellman’ to the noise of Social Media
- EVERYBODY HAS A BOOK IN THEM - The no-frills route to self publishing
- THE 'NON-PARTICIPATION' PUBLIC SPEAKING SEMINAR
- THREE DIMENSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY FROM 1850 TO 2030 – a hobbyists view
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