This is a Victorian round cedar commode seat raised on a plinth base with fluted sides. The name ‘commode’ translates in French as ‘convenient’ or ‘suitable’ and could be applied to a dressing table with water jug and bowl for washing oneself and having a cupboard underneath in which to house the chamber pot. It could also refer to a small bedside chest of drawers. In the days before indoor toilets and running water, it was common to have a chamber pot under or near the bed for use during the night or at any time for invalids. The commode seat was a decorative way of concealing the chamber pot by fitting it in a round hole under the lid with the height making it more convenient and suitable for people with limited mobility. The chamber post was removed, emptied and cleaned daily.Victorian Round cedar commode seat, raised on plinth base with fluted sides. Topped with red, yellow and blue embroidered upholstery churchill island, commode, toilet, furniture

A wooden commode, a cylindrical shape in two sections. The top section is possibly mass produced, it's 40 centimetres diameter and 27centimetres high, it has a hinged circular lid with a hinged toilet seat under it. Below is a space for a container. A hand made section has been added underneath to raze it 20 centimetres and includes a draw. An insert has fitted into the original structure to hold a smaller pot.commode, chamber pot

Bedroom commode of stained wood, with short legs and wheels, and a Meakin white enamel chamber pot inside.Meakin printed on bottom of chamber pot.commodes, storage furniture

This Commode Chair has been skillfully adapted by a bush carpenter from a kitchen chair - possibly for an invalid at a time when toilets were usually outside and often difficult to reach. The hinged seat is held up by a wire hook (No.8 fencing wire), and the seat can be lifted to remove the commode pot. The cream paint is of the type universally used for kitchen furniture before a more diverse range of paint colours became available.A wooden commode chair converted from a kitchen chair with four round legs and a hinged seat. Underneath is a hole to hold chamber pot or covered commode. The backrest consists of three turned spindles between squared timber that supports a carved rail across top. It is painted with cream paint that is rather worn.chairs, adaptation

Early Australian homes were built with outdoor bathrooms and toilets. A commode chair was a convenient and discreet design to save trips outside in the dark, creating an early form of indoor toilet. The commode chair was designed to look like any other household chair and fitted in with other bedroom furniture. The toilet bucket or chamber pot was hiding beneath a false seat and a lid was provided to cover the pot to help prevent odour and spillage. The bucket would be emptied each morning and washed out. This commode chair belonged to the great great grandmother of the donor and has been kept in very good condition. It was originally one of a pair of two chairs. The Robert Fowler Ltd Pottery was established in 1837 by Irish immigrant Enoch Fowler (1807-1879) in Marrickville, Sydney; his son Robert managed the business from 1873. Initially, the company mainly supplied the building and industrial trades but after the First World War, demand for domestic clayware grew. The company opened a second factory in Thomastown, VIC, in 1927. They are still operating today as one of Australia's leading bathroom products companies. This commode chair is an example of early 20th century bedroom furniture made by the first company to make pottery in Australia.Commode chair, cane chair, padded seat lifts up to reveal toilet seat with enamel bucket and metal lid beneath. Bucket is made by R. Fowler Ltd. of Victoria, Australia. Early 20th century.Bucket Maker's Mark "R. FOWLER LTD. THOMASTOWN VIC"flagstaff hill,, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, commode chair, cane commode chair, robert fowler porcelain ware, bedroom furniture, potty chair, wicker toilet chair, ceramic chamber pot

Mass produced. Used by Wandin Sebire.Wickerwork chair with cane trim. Under seat is commode with all contents. chairs, toilets, commodes

Cream glazed ceramic commode insert with steel handle & lid, flower on lid knob.domestic equipment, ablutions, commode pot, old cat number u5.7563

The map belonged to Jack Grinton No 1043 38th Batt AIF. At Wars end extensive leave was granted, Jack journeyed to Paris, Nice, Monte Carlo taking many photos. Part of the Grinton collection which included hundreds of negatives and developed photos that he took during the War. Refer Cat No 1280 for service details. Refer 1317P, 1320P.Map of Paris. Red cardboard or paper hardcover, new edition guide of metropolitan Paris (ministries, tramways, monuments), Index in front, folded paper map attached to back cover. "Plan commode de Paris avec l'itineraire des autobus & tramways metropolitan"documents-maps, french

1950's era could also be used as a chamber pot. Hoffman's Brick and Tile Company was established in 1862 in Brunswick. They began making pottery in the 1930''s but after WW2 the focus shifted back to bricks and tiles. They were best known for their ranges of Art pottery with Australian motifs. A circular cream coloured ceramic object. It's 14 centimetres high and 27centimetres in diameter at the top. The base is 18 centimetres in diameter extending up 12 centimeters to a 20 centimetre diameter. There is a two centimetre wide and one centimetre deep grove extending out with a one centimetre wide and 2.5 centimetre high rim. There are two half centimetre wide holes opposite each other in the rim for handles, which are missing. v26302 Hoffman Pottery AUSTRALIAchamber pot, commode, hoffman pottery

Sr. Scott is in a room in the Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) Melbourne Centre. She is wearing the RDNS grey uniform dress which has the insignia "Royal District Nursing Service" written in white on a grey background attached to the upper sleeves. The photograph is showing some of the equipment which is available for temporary loan to RDNS patients.From the founding of the Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS), in 1885, known as the Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) from 1966, equipment was loaned and demonstrated to patients and their family members, to enable them to care for their loved ones in their home. In the 1970s RDNS employed a Physiotherapist who taught RDNS staff the correct transferring techniques, including the use of a hoist when this became available. RDNS staff taught and used these techniques in patient’s homes to undertake safe transfer of the patient and to reduce physical strain on RDNS nursing staff and family members. Each RDNS Centre had a room or shed where equipment for loan was kept. Headquarters also kept additional equipment which could be transported to Centres as required. Black and white digital image portraying Sister Scott, who is smiling and has her dark hair drawn up, checking equipment. She is holding a bath seat in her hands. Behind her on a table, left to right, is an air cushion, draw sheets, male urinal, female urinal, bed pan and a sheepskin which is in front of a wooden board with rows of cup hooks and names under each hook. In the left foreground is a hoist with a white sling hanging from either side of the front hanger. To its right is a closed wheelchair, a 4 pronged walking stick, and a commode to the right of Sr. Scott.Barry Sutton Photographer. Quote KL 49rdns, rdns equipment, rdns uniform, royal district nursing service, sister scott

The photograph of the Commission Van is taken at the RDNS Service Centre at Chessell Street, South Melbourne. The three men are employed by the Royal District Nursing Service.In 1971 the Commission shop donated a Van to the Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), to be used by the Maintenance crew for delivery of equipment and transporting goods and documents between RDNS Centres and Headquarters. It was also used for transporting Maintenance staff and the equipment they required to do maintenance work at RDNS Centres as needed. The Commission Van was kept at the RDNS Service Centre at Chessell Street, South Melbourne.Black and white photograph showing the side view of the Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), Commission Van. The white snub nose Van, which has a closed passenger door and another further along, is standing with its front close to a brick building and sits on brick paving which extends onto earth. Three short windows can be seen along the top quarter of the Van. Both back doors are open. Mr. J. Grigg, with receding dark hair, is standing to the left of the photograph near the rear door, and has his hands on the hand grips of a wheelchair. Mr. J. Greet, is standing in the back of the van with his hands on the metal handles of a square metal commode as he hands it to Mr. Pincher, who has wavy short hair and is standing on the ground to his right. He has his hands on the main body of the commode. The three men are wearing their grey work coats over their clothes. In the background part of a two story dark brick building can be seen. On the ground floor, on the left, part of a dark door can be seen with a small window immediately above it, and further.above this is some light fan shaped brick work, three vertical bricks in height. To its right part of a window with the same brickwork can be seen and to the right along the building is part of a window with arched light brickwork followed by more brickwork and part of a door. Black pipework runs down some of the brickwork. Above the brickwork runs a row of light colour material, and above this part of the upper section in grey concrete can be seen.Photographers stamp. Quote No. KH 80mr j grigg, mr. j. greet, mr pincher, rdns equipment, royal district nursing service, rdns, rdns maintenance

The equipment items in this photograph are loaned out to Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) patient's to use in their homes. They are returned to RDNS and sterilized, or cleaned with disinfectant, whichever is appropriate, once they are no longer required. The material items are given to patient's as required. Many of these items are made and donated by RDNS Auxiliary members. From its inception in 1885, the two Trained nurses (Nurses) of the Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) worked in the now CBD, ie from Spencer Street to Spring Street and from Victoria Parade to Flinders Street. At that time they walked the streets and lane ways amid the slums of inner Melbourne carrying their nursing bags containing lotion, ointments, powders, liniment, bandages, dressings, a case of spirits, and the Nurse's own clean apron, soap and small towel. They supplied equipment on loan, such as earthenware hot water bottles, splints, urinals, bed pans, bed cradles, feeding mugs, and air-cushions as well as providing blankets and clean bed linen, and nightdresses and clothes as necessary. The Society was at the forefront of health care and continued to liaise with Doctors as the Society expanded. The Nurses provided high quality nursing care to a range of people, often in destitute situations, some lying on rags on the floor as they had no bed, others with just a bed and maybe a thin blanket, a chair and nothing else. Their ages ranged from babes, children, adults to the elderly. The Nurses gave medications as ordered, dressed wounds e.g. to the injured, and surgical cases, and to those with leg ulcers; attended to patients with ‘surgical ailments’ such as ‘hip disease’; gave care to those with acute illnesses such as bronchitis, pleurisy, pneumonia, measles, and scarlet fever, as well as those with chronic illnesses such as consumption (tuberculosis), heart disease, arthritis, cancer, debility, neuritis and paralysis. They educated their patients, and their Carers, in the curing and prevention of disease; Over the years items were given and equipment was loaned and demonstrated to patients, and if appropriate, to their family members to enable them to care for their loved ones in their homes. The Trained nurses had the rehabilitation of their patients in the forefront of their minds to ensure they were able to live as independently as possible in their own homes. As the years passed the Trained nurses changed from being called 'Nurse' to 'Sister' and the Society changed its name. In the 1970s, now with Royal patronage, and known as Royal District Nursing Service ( RDNS), they contracted a Private and then employed, a Physiotherapist who taught RDNS Sisters the correct transferring techniques, including the use of a hoist when this became available. RDNS Sisters taught and used these techniques in patient’s homes to undertake safe transfer of the patient and to reduce physical strain on RDNS nursing staff and family members. Each RDNS Centre had a room or shed where equipment for loan was kept, and Headquarters also kept additional equipment which could be transported to Centres as required. This black and white photograph shows some of the equipment loaned, along with some to be given, to Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) patients as required. Rear L-R - a white long nightdress with dark embroidery and buttons on the front and embroidery on the edge of the short sleeves. Next are two wooden bath seats; a square metal commode with lid and with its round legs extended to form handles on the left and right sides. A folded dark and white striped crocheted rug hangs over one of the handles. In the centre L-R, is a metal bed cradle, a metal 4 prong walking stick, bed pans, male urinal, stack of nappies with a white child's knitted jumper hanging over them, and a doona. In the front, L-R is a grey blanket, dark coloured bed socks, a sheepskin with a white smocked baby dress sitting on it, and a white babies nightgown on a clear plastic covered white bundle. A black mat sits under these items and a cream brick wall is in the background. Barry Sutton LS 47royal district nursing service, rdns, rdns equipment, rdns auxiliaries

This item was used as a portable toilet probably in a bedroom at night. They were commonly used until indoor plumbing was installed.Nowadays commodes have replaced chamber pots and are equally helpful for the sick and disabled persons. However, chamber pots are still used in countries which lack indoor plumbing facilities or during winter. The chamber pot is used in the form of a bedpan in hospitals and homes for very ill patients. The most popular form of the chamber pot is the potties used for children during toilet training. This is an example of an ordinary household item not commonly in use in the 21st century.A white painted enamel bowl-shaped container with a handle. It is blue rimmed with a blue handle.chamber-pot sanitation