Chamber Pots and the Old West

Chamber Pots and the Old West

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Some subjects are simply off limits in romanticized historical fiction. One of them happens to be the call of nature. Sometimes we see a heroine’s motivation for arising in the middle of the night. Always to heat some milk to help her sleep. It’s rare to read about one whose bladder keeps her awake. And certainly never the need to… um, well, {whispered} “Number Two”.

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USE OF CHAMBER POTS

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In my most recent post about “the necessary” (a.k.a. outhouse), I referenced the bitter elements of winter that would make accessing the facility uncomfortable if not impossible. Yet there were plenty of additional reasons to keep a chamber pot on hand. Middle of the night needs, little children, the elderly, a simple convenience, a mother’s inability to leave the children (near a hot stove or fireplace), and so much more.

If you’ve every toured an historic house open as a museum, you’ve no doubt seen chamber pots near beds. In actual historic practice, chamber pots were tucked away out of sight. Either beneath the bed or in the lower cupboard of a wash stand.

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Kristin Holt | Chamber Pots and the Old West. Photo shows chamber pot at foot of bed. In actual practice, these unsightly objects were usually tucked beneath the bed or otherwise out of sight.

Chamber pot at foot of bed. In actual practice, these unsightly objects were usually tucked beneath the bed or otherwise out of sight.

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IT’S A TOUGH JOB, BUT SOMEONE’S GOT TO DO IT

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Chamber pots were used essentially when visiting the necessary wasn’t possible. Emergencies, illness, advanced age, weather, etc. But I can imagine the well-to-do availing themselves of the inside convenience of a chamber pot and leaving the dirty work to the help.

When I visited historical homes open as museums, I’ve heard interpreters (museum guides) speak of the young boys’ (age 7 to 10 or so) job of emptying chamber pots. In my lifetime of ease and indoor plumbing, I don’t want to contemplate the yuck-factor of that job. But it was a part of every-day Victorian life–especially in the Old West where indoor plumbing had yet to reach.

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Kristin Holt | Chamber Pots and the Old West. Victorian-era wash stand. Note the covered chamber pot kept in the cabinet beneath.

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FANCY POTS

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Kristin Holt | Chamber Pots and the Old West. Odorless commode and slop bucket combined, as advertised in the 1897 Sears catalog (no. 104)

Odorless commode and slop bucket combined, as advertised in the 1897 Sears Roebuck & Co. catalog (no. 104). The advertisement itself emphasizes the use of chamber pots (by end of the century) were for invalids, sick rooms, and rare occasions (weather).

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Kristin Holt | Chamber Pots and the Old West. Very fancy chamber pot, as seen on Pinterest

Very fancy chamber pot, as seen on Pinterest.

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Kristin Holt | Chamber Pots and the Old West. Japanned ware chamber pot (pails), from the 1897 Sears Roebuck & co. catalog (no. 104) pp 150.

Japanned ware chamber pot, from the 1897 Sears Roebuck & co. catalog (no. 104) pp 150.

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Kristin Holt | Chamber Pots and the Old West. Stylized image: "A decorative chamber pot as owned by wealthy families."

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Related Articles

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Updated May 2022
Copyright © 2016 Kristin Holt LC
Chamber Pots and the Old West

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