Child's Chamber Pot thumbnail 1
Not on display

Child's Chamber Pot

ca. 1820 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Until modern ideas about food developed in the 1920s, many children had a very monotonous diet. This was high in carbohydrates and low in fresh fruit and meat, and sometimes caused constipation, which was promptly treated with a laxative. Popular naturally occurring laxatives for children and adults were castor oil, prunes, senna and rhubarb. Chemical potions included brimstone (sulphur) mixed with treacle, and calomel, a compound of mercury and chloride.

Ceramic pots like this one, with a moulded base so that it stands securely, are for use by themselves and were not part of a commode.

Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Earthenware, glazed and transfer-printed
Brief description
Child's glazed earthenware chamberpot or vomit cup made in England by Davenport & Co about 1820
Physical description
Child's chamber pot or vomit cup, of glazed blue and white transfer-printed earthenware. The pot is of a bulbous cup shape, with a looped handle at the side, and recessed circular base. The roll-shaped rim is transfer printed with a band of flowers, scrolls and foliage with a geometric print at the outer edge, and the handle with a spray of flowers. The front and back are transfer printed with the 'Muleteer' pattern: a man riding a mule through a picturesque river landscape with a castle on a rocky promontory in the background, and trees and church-like buildings by a cascade in the foreground.
Dimensions
  • Height: 8.1cm
  • Diameter: 12.1cm
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
DAVENPORT (Maker's identification; base; printing)
Object history
Bought at Olympia Antiques Fair.
Production
Small vessels of this type were also sometimes used as vomit cups.

Reason For Production: Retail
Subject depicted
Summary
Until modern ideas about food developed in the 1920s, many children had a very monotonous diet. This was high in carbohydrates and low in fresh fruit and meat, and sometimes caused constipation, which was promptly treated with a laxative. Popular naturally occurring laxatives for children and adults were castor oil, prunes, senna and rhubarb. Chemical potions included brimstone (sulphur) mixed with treacle, and calomel, a compound of mercury and chloride.

Ceramic pots like this one, with a moulded base so that it stands securely, are for use by themselves and were not part of a commode.
Collection
Accession number
B.837-1993

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Record createdApril 19, 2000
Record URL
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