Cylindrical stoneware foot or bed warmer also used as a hot water bottle (a) with one flat end and an opening at the other sealed with a threaded plug (b) which screws into the opening in the bottle with a removable (c) rubber washer which is separated from the plug with a layer of leather which is…
Cylindrical stoneware foot or bed warmer also used as a hot water bottle (a) with one flat end and an opening at the other sealed with a threaded plug (b) which screws into the opening in the bottle with a removable (c) rubber washer which is separated from the plug with a layer of leather which is attached firmly to the plug; cylinder is meant to rest on its side; transfer print of manufacturers logo on one side.
Number Of Parts
3
Part Names
a - hot water bottle
b - plug
c - washer
Provenance
Found in a cabinet in the donors' basement after they bought the house from John Briscoe of Briscoe's pharmacy.
"ROYAL // Doulton // LONDON" transfer printed on the side of the body
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-D2-1
Dimension Notes
a - hot water bottle - Size: Length 23.0 cm x Width 10.5 cm x Depth 10.0 cm
b - plug - Size: Length 3.5 cm x Diam. 4.7 cm
c - washer - Size: Length 0.5 cm x Diam. 4.5 cm
Condition Remarks
Minor staining
Reference Types
Internet
Book
Reference Comments
Internet: "Go Antiques"; Kingston City Directories
Research Facts
Hot water bottle is used as a bed warmer and foot warmer; also known as a 'pig', because it ‘hogs’ the space at the bottom of a bed as a bed warmer.
John Briscoe took over Bishop's Drugs Ltd in 1954; Bishop owned another store at 528 Princess Street from 1946 to 1954 and it had been a drug store under other ownership from 1923 until 1946; this is a possible origin of some of the collection.
John Briscoe of Briscoe's pharmacy. which was located at 229 Princess Street in Kingston from 1954 to 1966; it is likely that Briscoe acquired the collection during his career as a pharmacists.
Exhibit History
To display in Museum: Potions, Pills and Prescriptions; April 2006 - 28 Jan 2017.