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BOURDALOU
COACH POT
The silver bourdalou is a small urinary receptacle for female use, of compressed eliptical shape and generally
made of porcelaine or earthenware, but also made occasionally of silver. Its front end has an incurved rim
and, usually, stands on a simple foot ring with a simple loop handle. The bourdalou were used c. 1710-1850.
An apocryphal explanation of the origin of the name attributes it to Père Bourdaloue (1632-1704), a Jesuit
preacher at the Court of Louis XIV, whose long discourses detained the ladies of the Court so as to necessitate
this practical receptacle.
In England the bourdalou is known as silver 'coach pot'.
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This silver bourdalou, is unmarked but, presumably, was made in France c. 1840. The bourdalou has an engraved crest and a leather case to contain it. The Moroccan leather case measures 11.25 inches long (cm. 28,5) by 4.75 inches deep (cm. 12) and 5.75 inches tall (cm. 15) and has a brass plaque on the side bearing a crest. The bourdalou measures 10.25 inches in length (cm. 26) including the handle by 3.5 inches (cm. 9) at its widest and is 4 3/8 inches (cm. 11) at its tallest. It is crested on the side and has a reeded foot and a plain handle.
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