Topic: mystery drinking object.

[Ivo]

Christine you seem to know about breast pumps but not about relievers. Don't make me explain the difference.  :srn:

[rosieposie]

I had thought about an infant feeding / expressed breast milk (EBM) device earlier in the thread:

Then I thought that the dilemmma of sore or cracked nipples could mean that a nursing Mother might place this to her breast so the nipple entered the hole in the top.  Spout pointing downwards with a rubber teat,  could mean that the infant feels it is still being breast fed,  but affording relief for the poor nursing Mother.....just a thought?

Paul seemed reluctant to persue the issue....can't imagine why, I was wearing my  :srn:'s hat at the time!!

[Lustrousstone]

A little research has revealed that they are all breast relievers but not all breast relievers are breast pumps.

they would almost certainly all have had some sort of suction device attached to them

Suction is required to provide relief, even if it is the mother applying it by mouth herself, otherwise it won't do anything. Catching the drips is useful but not enough!

http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/broughttolife/objects/display.aspx?id=92531

Christine, couldn't this object been used to catch milk that was manually extracted (i.e. squeezed by hand) from the breast?

No because of the way you express; something with a wide mouth that wasn't held on the breast would be more suitable

[Anik R]

Oh.  :pb:

You see, in my imagination, this piece wasn't held to the breast -- it was placed on a surface, and the woman bent over it and expressed her milk by hand.  The 'collapse' at the top and the small hole would allow the milk in, and keep flies (or whatever else might spoil the milk) out.  The spout would be used to pour the milk into a feeder.

Perhaps not very logical.   :usd:

[Ivo]

I'm OUT of here. I gave the correct answer on good authority and now get discredited ? Shame on you!  :wsh:

[Lustrousstone]

It would require a very good aim Anik!

I'm not quite sure how I've discredited you Ivo.  :huh: I'm just applying personal experience.

[Paul S.]

wasn't trying to be dismissive rosie - just that I have other issues in life vieing for my attenton at the moment.   My knowledge of the expressing/pump matters inadequate to make it worth commenting, although appreciate the concave top might suggest catching a dropping liquid, and think only point of certainty is that the spout is for pouring.  Will have to adjourn for the time being, but thanks again.

[rosieposie]

Sorry Paul,  didn't intend to appear pressing on this matter....hope all is well with you.

[krsilber]

My first thought on seeing this was that it once held a filter of some sort. Just some more lateral thinking. 

It seems more like a pour spout than one you'd drink from. 

[Paul S.]

Have just received the following reply from the V. & A. in London.........

""Dear Paul Sterling
Thank you for your email.
Your object appears to be a breast-glass, for expressing milk. It is likely to be 19th-century and possibly of British manufacture. It is likely that the spout would have originally been longer.
I do hope this information is helpful.
Yours sincerely
Ruth Gilmore
Ceramics and Glass""

My sincere thanks to the V. & A. for their time and trouble, and despite a lack of faith in a prompt reply from some quarters, full marks to them for a response in something like two weeks
I am not sure quite why the spount may have been longer, but guess that we should give the prize to Ivo.