Miniature chamber pot

This miniature chamber pot was found on an archaeological excavation in Church Street, Isleworth, close to Kew Gardens. It is decorated in black with the words 'HAND IT OVER TO ME MY DEAR' surrounded by flowers. Chamber pots were used for convenience at a time when toilets inside houses were very rare. Once a chamber pot had been used it had to be emptied into the privy. Children would give their chamber pots to their parents or nannies, which is what the text on this pot refers to. This example is so small that it must be a toy. It probably belonged to a little girl for her dolls to 'use'.