White cup shaped ceramic invalid feeder hand painted red cross over a brown outline double circle transfer print on rounded half cover with a moustache shaped indent; spout attached on the lower half of the body and curves upwards, like a teapot; gilding around the perimeter edges, top opening, spo…
White cup shaped ceramic invalid feeder hand painted red cross over a brown outline double circle transfer print on rounded half cover with a moustache shaped indent; spout attached on the lower half of the body and curves upwards, like a teapot; gilding around the perimeter edges, top opening, spout, and handle; single open handle; spout is at ninety degrees from the handle pointing straight ahead.
Number Of Parts
1
Provenance
Collected by Maryanne Szuck and Alice Roeder.
Dates
1900
1930
circa 1900-1930
Date Remarks
Research
Material
ceramic: white
ink: red, gold, brown
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-D1-4
Length
14.6 cm
Width
12.1 cm
Height
7.8 cm
Unit Of Measure
centimeters
Condition Remarks
Gilding and transfer print worn; hairline fracture on the cover almost to edge between handle and spout
Copy Type
original
Reference Types
Documents
Book
eBook
Internet
Reference Comments
Allison, Eileen Michael. Ceramic Invalid Feeders, Pap Boats, and Baby Bottles of the 19th & Twentieth Century. Canada: E.M. Allison, 1997.
Campbell, Gordon. The Grove Encyclopedia of Decorative Arts. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2006. 2006. Accessed August 18, 2016. http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195189483.001.0001/acref-9780195189483
Donor file
Research Facts
Collected by Maryanne Szuck and sister Alice Roeder, a retired nurse. The collection consists of various eras and types of invalid / infant feeders, infant milk bottles, medicine spoons, urinals and reference material.
Invalid feeders are designed to provide liquid or semi solid nourishment in time of illness or incapacity. There are many different shapes for invalid feeders. Some of the shapes are defined as infant or invalid feeders, however it seems that each manufacture used both terms interchangeably. The boat shaped, which looks very similar to a gravy boat, originally evolved from the pap boat shape. It has a straight spout, main opening in the top, and an open handle in the back. This is also known as an infant feeder prior to the development of baby milk bottles. Manufacturers would market this item as both invalid and infant feeders depending on the market they are targeting.
The 1864 Geneva Convention introduced the red cross as the symbol of impartial medical relief during wartimes and disasters. The design was created from the Swiss flag in opposite colors to commemorate the Swiss advocate for the institution of this impartial aid and relief, Jean Henri Dunant. This popular symbol seems to have been superimposed on top of the glaze of many feeders after they were fired. One suggestion is that this meant that these were plain, utilitarian feeders were being repurposed for war times or for hospitals in times of need. In addition, these could be home painted decorative additions to feeders that were meant to be donated as part of charity missions in the early 20th century.