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Chamber pot

Probably United States

1860-1890

Measurements

7-1/2 in x 9-3/4 in (dia) x 10-3/4 in

Materials

Glazed white earthenware

Credit Line

Historic Odessa Foundation

Accession Number

2021.74

Inscription

The underside of the pot is marked with “at/45,” likely a manufacturing notation to identify production or a pattern.

Condition Notes

Although of similar age, the lid is from another vessel.

Provenance

The chamber pot was acquired at a flea market in Adamstown, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Comments

The lidded, one-handled chamber pot has a molded body with broad, flat-reeded decoration around the outside and a C-scroll handle.  The shallow-domed lid has a molded finial featuring a rod between floral end supports.  The body is made of a glazed white earthenware given the commercial name of "white ironstone China" by many manufacturers.  Reference to ironstone was intended to convey durability and not describe the material.

A slight difference in color and the presence of craquelure in the glaze of the lid but not the body indicates that the lid came from another source.  Both the lid and the pot body are of the same vintage.