Rare 19th C. English Blue & White Marbleized Porcelain Bourdaloue

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Description

Rare 19th C. English Blue & White Marbleized Porcelain Bourdaloue (Ladies’ Chamber Pot), England, Circa 1860

A rare and refined … Read more Rare 19th C. English Blue & White Marbleized Porcelain Bourdaloue (Ladies’ Chamber Pot), England, Circa 1860

A rare and refined example of Victorian-era sanitary design, this 19th-century English porcelain bourdaloue—also known as a slipper pot—was designed for discreet personal use by women, particularly before the widespread adoption of indoor plumbing. The elongated oval form was intended to fit comfortably beneath the skirts of seated or squatting users, often used in carriages, at church, or in private quarters.

Named (possibly apocryphally) for the Jesuit priest Louis Bourdaloue, whose famously lengthy sermons allegedly required such a convenience, this piece reflects both ingenuity and social constraint of the era.

Crafted in fine porcelain and decorated with a delicate cobalt marbleized glaze, this piece merges elegance with function. The scroll handle and softly curved silhouette are typical of higher-quality examples from the mid-19th century.

Condition:
Very good antique condition with a structural firing line from the original production process, visible near the handle and along the base. This is not a later crack or repair but a stable and common kiln-related flaw in early porcelain. No chips, restorations, or losses.

Dimensions:
9.5” W x 4” D x 4.5” H See less