Chamberpot Collection

WITCHES: WALPURGIS NIGHT. Walpurgis night on the Blocksberg, Germany. Woodcut, Leipzig, 1669

Boxmoor Schools, Hemelhempsted, Herts (litho)
8667812 Boxmoor Schools, Hemelhempsted, Herts (litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Boxmoor Schools, Hemelhempsted, Herts)

Mr C H Fox, Theatrical Costumier and Wig-Maker, 25, Russell Street, Covent Garden, and 26, Wellington Street, Strand
8648185 Mr C H Fox, Theatrical Costumier and Wig-Maker, 25, Russell Street, Covent Garden, and 26, Wellington Street, Strand, WC (engraving) by English School

"Simpson's, " Limited, Restaurant and Divan, 103, Strand, WC (engraving)
8648211 "Simpson's, " Limited, Restaurant and Divan, 103, Strand, WC (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: "Simpson's, " Limited)

Mr Charles Shapland, formerly Cloud and Shapland, Dealer in Ancient Plate, and Antiques of Interest to Americans, 207
8648203 Mr Charles Shapland, formerly Cloud and Shapland, Dealer in Ancient Plate, and Antiques of Interest to Americans, 207, High Holborn, beside the Restaurant, WC (engraving) by English School

Historic Places from Dickens Classics: The Old Curiosity Shop, Portsmouth Street, London, WC (colour litho)
8668207 Historic Places from Dickens Classics: The Old Curiosity Shop, Portsmouth Street, London, WC (colour litho) by English School

The Hckkies Aincakey, Coffee House, Cranbrook, Kent (litho)
8667805 The Hckkies Aincakey, Coffee House, Cranbrook, Kent (litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Hckkies Aincakey, Coffee House, Cranbrook, Kent)

Bathing group Anonymous drawing
JEB4868413 Bathing group Anonymous drawing; 18x36 cm; Palais de Longchamp, Marseille, France; (add.info.: Bathing group Anonymous drawing Size 18x36 cm Musee des Beaux Arts Palais Longchamp Marseille)

Letter L: Ah! I cut myself! But what can I see, o heaven! Man, arm and razor, we draw three L, 1861 (engraving)
DUV4214918 Letter L: Ah! I cut myself! But what can I see, o heaven! Man, arm and razor, we draw three L, 1861 (engraving); (add.info.: "ABC Trim)

The Tyler & Sons WC with valve constructed as an overflow, 1850
3359507 The Tyler & Sons WC with valve constructed as an overflow, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the Tyler & Sons WC with valve constructed as an overflow)

A water closet by Jennings of Lambeth, with valve and S-bend, 1850
3359501 A water closet by Jennings of Lambeth, with valve and S-bend, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a water closet by Jennings of Lambeth, with valve and S-bend)

Dolton's valve less flush-out water closet, 1850
3359500 Dolton's valve less flush-out water closet, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving of Dolton's valve less flush-out water closet. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

A water closet with wooden cabinet, 1850
3359498 A water closet with wooden cabinet, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a water closet with wooden cabinet and flushing mechanism, activated by closing the lid)

John Downe's water closet with automatic flush mechanism, 1850
3359496 John Downe's water closet with automatic flush mechanism, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting John Downe's water closet with automatic flush mechanism)

A washout water closet, 1850
3359495 A washout water closet, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a washout water closet. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

WC with syphon flushing cistern, 1850
3359513 WC with syphon flushing cistern, 1850; (add.info.: WC with syphon flushing cistern. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

A swinging urinal on a vertical hinge from the Practical Dictionary of Mechanics, 1850
3359504 A swinging urinal on a vertical hinge from the Practical Dictionary of Mechanics, 1850; (add.info.: Design for a swinging urinal on a vertical hinge from the Practical Dictionary of Mechanics)

Dolton's valve less flush-out water closet, 1850
3359502 Dolton's valve less flush-out water closet, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving of Dolton's valve less flush-out water closet. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

An earth closet by Kings, 1850
3359121 An earth closet by Kings, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting an earth closet by Kings, which automatically discharged earth into the bucket when the lid is closed)

Moser's earth closet, 1850
3359120 Moser's earth closet, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving of Moser's earth closet which when the seat was closed discharged earth or ash into the bucket)

Mr E W Gough, Patentee and Inventor of the "Humane Seat", 273, Strand, WC (engraving)
8648212 Mr E W Gough, Patentee and Inventor of the "Humane Seat", 273, Strand, WC (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Mr E W Gough)

C Holz, Theatrical and Private Wig-Maker, 14, York Street, Covent Garden, WC (engraving)
8648195 C Holz, Theatrical and Private Wig-Maker, 14, York Street, Covent Garden, WC (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: C Holz)

St Leger Horses in front of the Doncaster Stand (b/w photo)
8648503 St Leger Horses in front of the Doncaster Stand (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: St Leger Horses in front of the Doncaster Stand)

Royal Surrey Hotel, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18, Surrey Street, Strand, WC (engraving)
8648217 Royal Surrey Hotel, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18, Surrey Street, Strand, WC (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Royal Surrey Hotel, 14, 15, 16, 17)

Nude with white Sheet, 1937 (oil on canvas)
7332550 Nude with white Sheet, 1937 (oil on canvas) by Brusselmans, Jean (1884-1953); Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Ghent, Belgium; (add.info.: Jean Brusselmans (1884-1953)

Letter L: Ah! I cut myself! But what can I see, o heaven! Man, arm and razor, we draw three L, 1861 (engraving)
DUV4214909 Letter L: Ah! I cut myself! But what can I see, o heaven! Man, arm and razor, we draw three L, 1861 (engraving); (add.info.: "ABC Trim)

The Optimus pedestal WC with small lead-lined wooden cistern, 1850
3359514 The Optimus pedestal WC with small lead-lined wooden cistern, 1850; (add.info.: The Optimus pedestal WC with small lead-lined wooden cistern)

Lavatory with WC, urinal and wash basin, 1850
3359511 Lavatory with WC, urinal and wash basin, 1850; (add.info.: Lavatory with WC, urinal and wash basin. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Pedestal WC with siphon flushing system, 1850
3359510 Pedestal WC with siphon flushing system, 1850; (add.info.: Pedestal WC with siphon flushing system. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

A portable water closet from the Practical Dictionary of Mechanics, 1850
3359505 A portable water closet from the Practical Dictionary of Mechanics, 1850; (add.info.: Design for a portable water closet from the Practical Dictionary of Mechanics by Edward H)

Kirkwood's water closet, 1850
3359497 Kirkwood's water closet, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving of Kirkwood's water closet. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

The Optimus pedestal WC with small lead-lined wooden cistern, 1850
3359494 The Optimus pedestal WC with small lead-lined wooden cistern, 1850; (add.info.: The Optimus pedestal WC with small lead-lined wooden cistern)

Pivoted closet seat by Edwin R. Parkes of Copper Falls Mine, 1850
3359123 Pivoted closet seat by Edwin R. Parkes of Copper Falls Mine, 1850; (add.info.: Pivoted closet seat by Edwin R. Parkes of Copper Falls Mine. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Ranelagh (b/w photo)
8648472 Ranelagh (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Ranelagh. Illustration for The Sports of the World edited by F G Aflalo (Cassell)

The Derby, behind the coaches on the hill (b/w photo)
8648469 The Derby, behind the coaches on the hill (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Derby, behind the coaches on the hill)

Family sitting on a giant chamber pot (colour litho)
8656627 Family sitting on a giant chamber pot (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Family sitting on a giant chamber pot)

Vortex flushing pedestal WC with diphon tank above, 1850
3359509 Vortex flushing pedestal WC with diphon tank above, 1850; (add.info.: Vortex flushing pedestal WC with diphon tank above. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Bostel's valve less flush out water closet, 1850
3359506 Bostel's valve less flush out water closet, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving of Bostel's valve less flush out water closet. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

The workings of a toilet, 1850
3359122 The workings of a toilet, 1850; (add.info.: Cutaway diagram showing the workings of a toilet. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

An earth closet, 1850
3359119 An earth closet, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving of an earth closet, a basic type of toilet with dry earth used to cover excrement. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

A tier pedestal WC's with trap ventilation and soil pipe, 1850
3359508 A tier pedestal WC's with trap ventilation and soil pipe, 1850; (add.info.: Sectional view of a tier pedestal WC's with trap ventilation and soil pipe)

Design for a ship's WC designed by Andrew Thomson, 1850
3359503 Design for a ship's WC designed by Andrew Thomson, 1850; (add.info.: Design for a ship's WC, which would prevent spillage and drifting smells)

A water closet by Jennings of Lambeth, with hinged seat removed, 1850
3359499 A water closet by Jennings of Lambeth, with hinged seat removed, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a water closet by Jennings of Lambeth, with hinged seat removed)

Fully tiled lavatory with WC on dais, 1850
3359512 Fully tiled lavatory with WC on dais, 1850; (add.info.: Fully tiled lavatory with WC on dais. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

The Winners of the Championship, Hopgood Squire and Jubilee King (b/w photo)
8651307 The Winners of the Championship, Hopgood Squire and Jubilee King (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Winners of the Championship)

The Derby, view down the course (b/w photo)
8648470 The Derby, view down the course (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Derby, view down the course)

Mrs Fisher, Portmanteau and Dressing Bag and Case Maker, Cutler, etc, 188, Strand, WC (engraving)
8648245 Mrs Fisher, Portmanteau and Dressing Bag and Case Maker, Cutler, etc, 188, Strand, WC (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Mrs Fisher)

Mr W F Stanley, Optician, Patentee and Practical Manufacturer of Mathematical, Drawing, and Surveying Instruments, 4
8648215 Mr W F Stanley, Optician, Patentee and Practical Manufacturer of Mathematical, Drawing, and Surveying Instruments, 4, 5, and 10 Great Turnstile, Holborn, WC (engraving) by English School

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"Unveiling the Secrets of the Chamberpot: A Journey through Art and History" Step into a world where art intertwines with everyday life, as we explore the enigmatic chamberpot. From witches gathering on Walpurgis Night to serene moments in frigidariums, this humble object has witnessed it all. Intriguing woodcuts transport us to Germany's Blocksberg during Walpurgis Night, where witches dance under moonlit skies. The chamberpot, an essential tool for their nocturnal rituals, holds secrets untold. Moving forward in time, an oil painting from 1903 captures a glimpse of domesticity - "The Toilet. " Here lies a testament to human ingenuity; a vessel that offers comfort and convenience amidst our daily routines. Venturing further back into history, we encounter Pontius Pilate facing Christ in a captivating painting. Amidst this dramatic scene unfolds another aspect of existence - even ancient times recognized the need for personal hygiene and facilities like the chamberpot. Delving deeper into antiquity, ruins with thermae come alive on canvas. These remnants remind us that communal bathing was once cherished by societies long gone. Yet within these grand structures stood unassuming chamberpots – silent witnesses to countless conversations held between friends or whispered confessions made by lovers. A pastel artwork titled "After the Bath" transports us to an intimate moment of solitude and self-care. As women freshen up or Ondina delicately dresses her hair before her mirror-like plaster sculpture suggests timeless beauty rituals intertwined with this modest object's presence. "The Tub, " depicted in delicate pastels on cardboard from 1886 evokes tranquility and relaxation after a long day's work – reminding us that even then people sought solace within their private spaces adorned with trusty chamberpots nearby. Belle Epoque bather taking a foot bath captured in black-and-white photography reveals how this object was an essential part of self-care routines.