Of Thunder Pots and Potty Chairs

Same Pot, Different Year

I have always been very up front about my thankfulness for indoor pluming.

Did you know that in the days of outhouses people kept what I call Thunder Pots? They were mostly used for those late night, gotta go and it is too darned cold and dark out there to make the journey, times.

My father’s second wife collected and sometimes sold antiques and had a thunder pot displayed next to an antique hurricane lamp. She was a very prepared woman.

I never know when a memory is going to take root in a short story, novel or blog post. But, since the Thunder Pot showed up in a remote cabin within reach of an abducted character, I thought I’d do a sort of info-dump for a modern reader who would be more apt to have a five gallon bucket as a stand in.

A Thunder Pot is also called; a Po, Pot, Pot de chambre, John, Jordan, Potty, Thunder Mug, Chamberpot , and Bourdalous.

The thought occurred to me, just now, the handy modern day potty chair could be rebranded as any of these names and sold in those very expensive baby boutiques.

Thunder Pots have a rich history going back to at least 1300 B. C.. During the Victorian Era, they were all the rage, decorated and very expensive.

You can google and find enough information on the history of these pots to make you, well, you know, want to be thankful the next time you use your modern day toilet, also known by many names.

I wish I had a photo of the Pot and the Hurricane Lamp, sitting side by side on an equally antique table in the living room with the very fake fireplace.

I have posted a cell phone photo of one of my ‘potted’ plants instead.

Enjoy your week-end. I’ll be back soon.