When talking about chamber pots, commodes, and careless errors, the “careless errors” are most likely not what you may think. These “errors” will not be one thing that must be cleaned up however corrected.

Brooklyn Rest room set

I’m writing in regards to the newest antiques to be misidentified by on-line sellers and vintage sellers. It looks like one thing hardly value mentioning besides that when antiques are misidentified by the “consultants,” the inaccurate info turns into credible after which turns into a normal perception. This occurs with many antiques, however this text will probably be restricted to these old-time requirements often called a: chamber pot, commode, thunder mug, Texas teacup, potty, po’, guzunder, Jordan, jerry, and the extensively identified, unrefined piss pot. These are nicknames for the chamber pot as soon as saved underneath the mattress, within the washstand, or the privy cupboard. Undoubtedly, our readers might provide you with a number of extra of those euphemisms.

Misidentifying chamber pots

This Alba China Bona Fama Melior Ironstone slop jar (left) $119.99, and the matching chamber pot (proper) $89.99 every bought on eBay in January 2025.

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Once you gotta go, you gotta go, however do vintage sellers actually know the place to go?

This vintage Chinese language-made under-bed urinal bought for $115.00 in January 2025.

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I’ve observed a brand new development in on-line promoting websites that’s deceptive at the very least and misleading at worst. Commodes are being bought as dough containers and slop jars as chamber pots. One purpose could also be ignorance on the vendor’s half, which isn’t any excuse. When you name your self an antiques supplier, it’s essential to educate your self. There are tens of hundreds of books on-line, each new and used, most very cheap and even free at your native library. These books will assist determine furnishings, glassware, artwork, carpets, textiles, and each sort of vintage and collectible.

I usually see lift-top commodes, items of furnishings with a elevate prime, a drawer, and a door through which a chamber pot was saved, listed on the market on-line as “Dough Packing containers.” I can’t think about the place these sellers got here up with this one. Is it out of ignorance or as a result of furniture-size dough containers will not be simple to search out and command larger costs than commodes?

This entrance and aspect view type is traditional for an eighteenth to early nineteenth-century dough field. All 4 sides are sloped, are often dovetail constructed, and the lid usually lifts off utterly (though later dough containers can have hinged lids). They are often 4 to 4 and a half toes lengthy, two toes deep, and over two toes tall. This piece is a Nineteenth-century (1870) French Louis XV carved walnut dough field from Provence. It measures 40.5″ W x 20″ D x 36″ H. It was listed on 1st Dibs for $4,800 however bought for an unknown quantity.

1st Dibs

Vintage dough containers look nothing like a commode and usually promote for as a lot as two to 10 instances as a lot for an eighteenth-century piece. At greatest, it’s misrepresentation; at worst, deception. These lift-top commodes might be discovered on-line in a value vary from $130 to $595, which reveals simply how arbitrary pricing might be. Search “vintage cottage commode” and see the value disparity for a similar high quality piece. Admittedly, the one that purchased such a bit at $130 received a discount. Then again, the one that pays greater than $300 is being gouged.

This mid-Nineteenth-century commode options mahogany building, a pull-out needlepoint step stool, and an identical prime. It bought for $765 on eBay in December 2023. This piece is on the upper finish of public sale outcomes. Most commodes will not be as elaborate and promote within the $150 – $300 vary.

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I’ll obtain a slew of letters from sellers asking me, “Simply who the #$#% do you suppose you might be?” However I stated it, and I’ll stick by it; this Brooklyn-born boy ain’t backing down. I’ve additionally seen these lift-top commodes listed as “a commode or a dry sink.”

C’mon folks, it’s one or the opposite. Are you or are you not an antiques supplier?

Many on-line sellers misidentify their gadgets with conviction and assign costs apropos of nothing. It’s obvious that many of those sellers don’t analysis their gadgets, even on the web site they’re utilizing to promote them, to find out what number of of these gadgets are being provided and at what value. I usually see the identical precise merchandise listed by as many as ten sellers with a variety of costs. Generally, you’ll discover a “Purchase It Now” merchandise, and slightly below that itemizing is the same, even equivalent “Purchase It Now” merchandise at 3 times the value. Most of the checklist costs are arbitrary, with no foundation in actuality.

Along with the bowl and pitcher (E), this typical Brooklyn Rest room Set included a chamber pot with lid (C), a two- to three-piece cleaning soap dish (F), a toothbrush holder (B), a cup, a slop jar with or with out a lid (A), and one or two smaller pitchers for heat water (D).

Anthony Cavo

My seventeen-year-old nephew just lately bought a carved scarab bracelet at an property sale and determined to checklist it on that large web promoting web site everyone knows. Earlier than itemizing his gadgets, he researches that web site to find out if comparable or the identical gadgets are being provided and for what costs. He additionally does a sophisticated search to find out the precise gross sales costs for that merchandise. He discovered the identical precise bracelet on a present itemizing as a “Purchase It Now, $7.50 or greatest supply,” with dozens of others for as excessive as $125; many being recognized as “Egyptian Revival” (1820-1850 and once more 1920-1930) when they’re clearly model new. eBay shouldn’t be the place to coach your self.

Excuse the departure. I’m again on the chamber pot, so to talk. There’s some confusion relating to the distinction between a chamber pot and a slop jar (slop bucket). Many on-line venues supply slop jars on the market as commodes or chamber pots when they’re fully totally different in type and performance.

About ‘rest room units’

To grasp the distinction, you might want to be conversant in rest room units, identified right this moment as bowl and pitcher units, which have been used till the appearance of indoor plumbing and even later in properties that didn’t have the luxurious. Many individuals don’t understand {that a} bowl and pitcher is often not a stand-alone merchandise however is often a part of a set with 6, 10, or 12 items (together with lids) that would price wherever from $4.75 to $8.25. Along with the bowl and pitcher, a typical bowl and pitcher set may embrace a chamber pot with a lid, a two- to three-piece cleaning soap dish, a toothbrush holder, a cup, a slop jar with or with out a lid, and one or two smaller pitchers for heat water.

The “Brooklyn Rest room Set” proven within the illustration (above) was provided within the 1897 Sears Roebuck Catalogue for $8.25, which, in line with the Shopper Worth Index, is equal in buying energy to $555.06 in 2018. The set consisted of a “basin and pitcher, mug, brush vase, scorching water pitcher, cleaning soap dish, cowl and drainer, chamber and canopy and slop jar and canopy.”

The chamber pot was saved underneath the mattress or in a commode, washstand, privy cupboard or po’ cabinet (from the French pot de chamber). Opposite to standard and up to date perception, folks within the Victorian period, apart from the very poor, didn’t go with out bathing for months or weeks. They didn’t routinely immerse themselves in tubs or showers as we do, however they did take sponge baths like these in hospitals and rehabilitation facilities all over the place right this moment.

This John Maddock & Sons Royal Vitreous 9-Piece Chamber Set with uncommon inexperienced/gold glaze was bought by McLaren Public sale Companies for $96 in 2024.

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The massive pitcher was full of water, often chilly or room temperature if stuffed the night time earlier than, and smaller pitchers might be full of heat water heated on a range. This water was poured into the bowl from the place the precise washing was executed. When the washing was full, they didn’t carry the water-filled bowl outside to be emptied as a result of that would depart water all over the place. As a substitute, they tipped the used water into the slop jar and cleaned the bowl for the following use. The slop jar was additionally used as a receptacle for waste from brushing tooth. For that reason, the chamber pot was by no means emptied into the slop jar. The slop jar was taken outside to be emptied, and the chamber pot was emptied right into a cesspool or outhouse.

Misguidance on the Web

This vintage salt-glazed stoneware slop jar from the early 1900s was probably made by Pink Wing (they usually manufactured unmarked items). It bought in 2016 for $70.00.

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Even Wiktionary has an incorrect definition for a slop jar – they outline it as “A container used for urinating or defecating…” It is a good instance of how the web is as misguiding as it’s helpful. As a result of one thing is acknowledged in Wikipedia or Wiktionary doesn’t make it appropriate (Bypass Wiki websites when looking for antiques and collectibles information–they are written by anybody with an curiosity in a topic, not consultants ~ KAT).

When these “academic” websites misinform, they’re, in a way, responsible of malpractice. Why would a chamber pot or commode even be known as a “slop bucket” or “slop jar”? Why would a bowl and pitcher set have two various kinds of vessels for bodily wastes? The “slop,” referred to within the time period “slop jar,” is the waste from washing and brushing the tooth.

Though we’re all conversant in the phrase “Caveat Emptor,” I imagine there’s a sure commonplace that folks within the antiques enterprise should keep. If you’ll promote one thing, analysis it, however seek the advice of a dependable supply. Know your antiques, their age, how they have been used, and their present market worth. Realizing this info won’t solely make you a greater vintage supplier, however being well-versed may even make your gadgets extra fascinating to potential consumers.

Dr. Anthony Cavo is an authorized appraiser of artwork and antiques and a contributing editor to Kovels Vintage Dealer. Cavo can also be the creator of Love Immortal: Vintage Images and Tales of Canine and Their Folks.