Glass Message Board
Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: Ivo on February 17, 2013, 11:00:06 AM
-
Mystery bottle - can anyone think what it is for?
First of all, it is old. The glass is seedy and has some grit included. The pontil mark has been sheared off and left untreated.
What was originally a round shape has been flattened on 2 sides. If they had done the same to the third side it would have been a triangular bottle.
The lip has been made as a large asymmetrical flange, with a spout pointing in the same direction as the pointed bottle.
I was wondering if this is an early bed pan of sorts?
-
Looks possible for female urinal but the hole seems a bit small.
-
Spitoon for the short sighted betting man . Frank she would have to be very bow legged from the very top . ;D
OMG The mind boggles. ;)
-
The bed-pan suggestion was one I would not have come up with myself - but with it being mentioned, my first thoughts were that it might have been one used in coaches.
Female ones are a different shape - they're more figure-of-8 shaped, with a deepish bowl - at least the ones I've seen in museums are. They were labelled as for being used during very long sermons.
-
I found one in the Altare catalogue but of a more recent vintage. It is mould blown and does have a shape as you suggest. I thought this might be a blown precursor. Having two flat sides suggests thighs, and the round side suggests capacity should not be compromised. As for the size of the hole being small - you might think so but I couldn't possibly comment....
-
I know the curiosity is killing you all - the probability of this being a female urine bottle circa 1800-1900 is getting very high.
http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/broughttolife/objects/display.aspx?id=6782
http://www.popscreen.com/p/MTA5MDc2MjMx/ANTIQUE-GLASS-FEMALE-MEDICAL-NURSE-URINE-BOTTLE--eBay
http://www.etsy.com/search?includes%5B%5D=tags&q=glass+urinal
http://www.etsy.com/search?includes%5B%5D=tags&q=medical+specimen
with apologies for some strange imagery in the last link.
-
Hi Ivo, have you thought about T.B ? (Tuberculosis) Spitting bottle?
The She Wee? Nah! not concave enough and toooo narrow!!! especially after a little drinky or two.
-
the flared 'mask like' rim opening, could be suitable for placing against the mouth/lips - for collecting phlegm samples or whatever.
Anywhere else on the body, and it might bring tears to the eyes. :o
-
I'm still on the 'travellers urinal' trail at the moment. Is it worth asking this collector if he has ever seen one and could verify it as a urinal?
http://www.clevelandseniors.com/entertainment/bedpan.htm
Possibly worth a try Ivo?
New find!
Scroll down on this site and number 71,72,73,74,75, 76 are interesting glass versions, with number 77 is VERY like the one you are asking about.
http://loveisspeed.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/antique-duck-bourdaloue-and-chamber.html
Gloss over some of the risqué pictures boys!!
-
WELL I NEVER!!!!! no more gravy for me . yuk
-
The flask has a capacity of 900 ml, or 600 lying down - so phlegm samples are out, wee is in. Still not sure if this one is for traveling, for bed use or for coach trips - but the function seems to be unquestioned.
Still I wonder, did m'lady open the coach window to empty the contents on innocent paupers, or stopper it for later disposal? You must admit, as a topic it has great potential.
JP stay off the gravy, stick to Bisto.
-
Hi ,
Please note that in this link http://loveisspeed.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/antique-duck-bourdaloue-and-chamber.html
kindly provided by Rosie , No's 71/2/3/4 are not urinals , these are Facon De venise 'Kuttrolf' decanters, predecessors of the Kluk Kluk decanters.
A few nice examples can be seen here .
http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/searchresults.aspx?action=search&searchtype=p&entry=Kuttrolf&location=CSK&exclude=&e1=&e2=&sortby=dt&num=90
cheers ,
Peter.
-
I think you are right Ivo, the function does seem to be unquestionable.
I did wonder Peter, but think of the wonderful noise they would make when you emptied them over the 'Innocent Paupers'!!
So it would seem both wine as well as gravy are off the menu!!
-
quote............."So it would seem both wine as well as gravy are off the menu!!"...........all a matter of taste anyway ;)
The example laying crosswise on post office red satin two thirds of the way down is also questionable as a bed pan. An identical piece is shown in Phoebe Phillips 'The Encyclopedia of Glass' (page 201) and is described as an Islamic shaped ewer, designed by Fredrick Carder - but I guess that provided you rinsed it out afterwards........ The sort of thing you'd need in the outback, collect the pee and then boil later.
I believe that Loetz and Tiffany made similar pieces with ridescent finishes, with openings of a urinal shape.
-
I was contemplating the similarities in shape with JIPs myself!