Lucagnolo's (note 1) was a huge silver piece, used at the table of Pope Clement, into which he flung away bits of bone and the rind of divers fruits, while eating; ... [it] was adorned with two fine handles, together with many masks, both small and great, and masses of lovely foliage, in as exquisite a style of elegance as could be imagined ...

This description, given by Benvenuto Cellini (1500-1571: famous for the golden figural salt cellar now at the Kunsthistorisches Museum of Vienna) in his autobiography 'Vita', confirms that ort bowls, slop bowls, alms-dishes, voiders, waste-pots, waste bowls... (among the many names by which these items have been known), were used since ancient times. In their different shapes, measures and materials they are containers into which to put unwanted scraps and pieces of food in order to clear the plate.

By the middle of the eighteenth century, small circular or octagonal bowls were added also to the equipment necessary for the serving of tea. Slop bowls, as they were then called, were used for pouring out the remaining cold tea in a cup before pouring another.

It was not until the second half of the eighteenth century that the form became standard equipment of the tea table. In the classical period they became designated as slop basins, and in general were fashioned with a large basin form supported on a pedestal base.

In the nineteenth century the slop bowl continued as a circular basin without any handles or lid, and was almost twice as large as the sugar bowls in teasets. Often it had a wide projecting rim at this period, a practical measure taken against splashing during use.

"Family of three at the tea", an oil painting by Richard Collins c. 1725, showing the Gay family and the silver tea equipment of the George I period, including, left to right, a covered sugar bowl, hexagonal tea canister with domed lid, hot milk (or hot water) jug, waste bowl and pyriform tea pot on a stand with a spirit lamp.
(note handless porcelain cups originally used to drink tea)

The shape of the waste bowl may result in a misidentification and usually a certain designation is possible only when it is part of a complete teaset or when coupled to its companion sugar bowl.

Often, a 'single' waste bowl is offered for sale, by unaware dealers, as more appealing ... sweetmeat bowl ... sugar bowl ... centerpiece ... or some other fancy designation.

waste bowl Thomas William Brown, Wilmington, c. 1840	tea or coffee set Thomas William Brown, Wilmington, c. 1840

waste bowl: Grosjean & Woodward for Tiffany	tea and coffee service Grosjean & Woodward for Tiffany, circa 1862 teapot, coffee pot, waste bowl, milk creamer, sugar bowl

waste bowl Dominick & Haff	teaset Dominick & Haff, New York, teapot, kettle and stand, milk creamer, waste bowl, sugar bowl

waste bowl Wallace	tea and coffee service, Wallace, Wallingford, CT, pattern Sir Christopher teapot, coffee pot, waste bowl, sugar bowl, milk creamer

Barbour Bros. Co. waste bowl	milk creamer, sugar bowl and waste bowl Quadruple Plate, Barbour Bros. Co. Hartford, Connecticut, last quarter of 19th century

Theodore B. Starr waste bowl c. 1890	Theodore B. Starr five piece tea and coffee service c.1890

Reed & Barton waste bowl	Reed & Barton Georgian Rose pattern tea and coffee five piece service

S. Kirk & Son waste bowl	S. Kirk & Son tea and coffee five piece service