A small vessel with a rim shaped to fit round the eye, used for applying medicated or cleansing solutions to the eyeball. Most of these utensils rested on a stemmed foot.

There are eye baths of all types, from the most mundane plastic example to the beautiful porcelain and silver eye baths produced by such well-known manufacturers as Meissen, Sèvres, Derby and Wedgwood.

Silver eye baths were sometimes a unit of the silver toilet service or were kept separate in a hinged case.



Images and information courtesy George Sturrock, author of Eye Baths: an illustrated survey
Millstream Books, 18 The Tyning, Bath BA2 6AL - email tgmgraham@mac.com