Oval umber coloured porcelain bedpan with dovetail front and a circular spout at the back.
Number Of Parts
1
Provenance
Owned by donor, Sadie A. Allen.
Dates
1900
1930
circa 1900-1930
Material
porcelain: gold
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0007
0007-N1-3
Length
44.4 cm
Width
27.5 cm
Depth
12.6 cm
Unit Of Measure
centimeters
Dimension Notes
Length: 44.4 cm. x Width: 27.5 cm. x Depth: 12.6 cm.
Condition Remarks
Bedpan shows no chips, cracks or excessive wear on the porcelain; there are some small unidentified brown marks near the lip of the opening and a small spot of an unidentified substance on the bottom
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Person
Website
Article
Reference Comments
Sadie A. Allen
American Association for the History of Nursing, https://www.aahn.org/bedpans#:~:text=Porcelain%2C%20china%2C%20and%20even%20pottery,enamel%20and%20then%20stainless%20steel.&text=Today%20these%20antique%20bedpans%20are,be%20found%20in%20antique%20stores.
Cassandra Good, “The Strange Saga of George Washington’s Bedpan,” August 20th, 2015. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/strange-saga-george-washingtons-bedpan-180956347/
Research Facts
Before the late nineteenth century, bedpans and similar objects were made of metals such as pewter, brass, and sometimes even glass. By the late nineteenth century, porcelain, china, and pottery were used. As the 20th century dawned, bedpans, urinals, basins, etc. were made of enamel and later stainless steel. In the 1960s, there was a shift towards plastics and other disposables.
The bedpan was designed for people who could not or should not rise from their beds to relieve themselves. A bedpan could be lightly heated and placed under the covers of the beds of the elderly, people who were ill, and women recovering from childbirth so that they would not have to get out of bed. They were routinely emptied by caregivers, nurses, etc.
This bedpan style is a "slipper" type, later referred to as a fracture bedpan and can be slipped under the patient. The spout is to facilitate washing it out. Fracture bedpans are smaller than standard size bedpans, and have one flat end. This bedpan style is designed specifically for patients who are bedridden and have limited movement to use a standard style bedpan.
Exhibit History
To display in Museum: Potions, Pills and Prescriptions; May 1, 2000 - 28 Jan 2017.