Accession Number

2006.001.007

Alternate Name

slop safe

Description

One "Slop Safe". It is made from a flat slab of white porcelain and has a clear, high-gloss glaze. It is rectangular in shape with a centre oval opening 22cmL X 27.5W X 2.2cm. There is a deep lip at the edges of the oval opening that slightly curves down. The slab has four holes, one at each corner. On the underside is a black-coloured transfer-printed maker's mark incorporating the Coat of Arms of Great Britain. The outside of the mark consists of a ribbon in which this wording appears in upper-case lettering: "MANUFACTURED FOR THE J.L. MOTT IRON WORKS EXCLUSIVELY NEW YORK". Inside the ribbon and encircling the Coat of Arms is this upper-case wording: "JOHN DIMMOCK & CO. HANLEY STAFFORDSHIRE ENGLAND".

Narrative

This is a special porcelain platter that was designed to be placed directly above a toilet bowl when the toilet was installed within a case or box. It prevents waste from traveling past the toilet and into the space within the box, which would be impossible to clean without the entire seat assembly being dismantled. Trade catalogues called these ceramic slabs "slop safes". This example was manufactured in England exclusively for The J. L. Mott Iron Works, New York.

This slop safe is one of the rarest objects in the collection of The Castle Society. It was collected for display in Craigdarroch's third floor bathroom.

History of Use

The Castle Society purchased this slop safe from a dealer in Rhode Island, USA in 2006. Its history of use is not known. 

Date

circa 1880

Dimensions

47 x 2 x 40.7 cm

Material

Ceramic, porcelain

Technique

Moulded; Glazed; Fired

Country of Origin

England