Accession Number

2006.001.004

Description

One white porcelain one-piece toilet bowl. It has a clear high-gloss glaze. It has a deep oval bowl (38.7cmL X 34.5W X 3.7cmW lip) with the damaged waste opening at the back and sits on an oval base, (40.9cmL X 16.2W X 1.8H). A small metal pipe comes out on one side. There is a relief decoration on the side of the bowl consisting of a single vertical spear-like design which repeats repeats every 4.1cm X 7.6H, and a scrolling leaf-like relief design on the front of the bowl. There is an ornate blue-coloured transfer-printed maker's mark on one side of the bowl, which incorporates the Coat of Arms of Great Britain. It reads in upper-case lettering "MANUFACTURED FOR THE J.L. MOTT IRON-WORKS EXCLUSIVELY NEW YORK - BROWN WESTHEAD MOORE & CO - CAULDON PLACE STAFFORDSHIRE ENGLAND - BY ROYAL APPOINTMENT - POTTERS TO HER MAJESTY DIEU ET MON DROIT". The manufacturer's name and address and the number 14 is impressed into the bottom of the base. "PATENT DEC. 7TH 1880" is transfer-printed in blue font on the top of the waste pipe. The model name is transfer-printed onto the top-front of the bowl: "MOTT'S PRIMO".

Narrative

This toilet was made in Staffordshire, England in the 1880's for the J. L. Mott Iron Works of New York City, USA. It was acquired by The Castle Society for display in Craigdarroch's third floor bathroom.

History of Use

Unknown. The toilet was purchased by The Castle Society from a dealer in Rhode Island in 2006. 

Date

circa 1885

Dimensions

60 x 34.5 x 55 cm

Material

Ceramic, porcelain

Brand Name

Mott's Primo

Technique

Moulded; Glazed; Fired

Country of Origin

United Kingdom