| By Hotspur |
In the Renaissance, going to the bathroom was not easy, if you think about it with our modern sensibilities: toilet, toilet paper, privacy.
Most of the time people would go behind trees and in the forest. Sometimes people had bowls that they would use. This bowl was called a chamber pot. It was designed to fit under beds so that people could relieve themselves at night. Most chamber pots were ceramic and had lids.
There was also a specially designed chamber pot for women. This was called a Bourdaloue. The shape of it was oval, or rectangular, with the front tipped up slightly. This was so the lady could stand or squat without getting her skirt wet. The name Bourdaloue came from a priest named Louis Bourdaloue. Bourdaloue was known to give long sermons, so the ladies would have to bring their chamber pots in case they had to relieve themselves during the sermon.
In courtesy ofhttp://www.redhooktreasure.com/pottery/chamber-pot-richard-alcock-burslem-staffordshire.html
Want to learn more? Check out Biblical Archaeology or Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. Two Nerdy History Girls elaborate on the Bourdaloue.
