Iowa pattern

Object NameHot Water Pitcher and Chamber Pot w/ Lid

MediumIronstone china

DimensionsPitcher: 8 x 6 x 4 1/2 in. (20.3 x 15.2 x 11.4 cm) Pot: 5 x 11 x 9 in. (12.7 x 27.9 x 22.9 cm) Lid: 2 1/2 x 9 1/2 x 9 1/2 in. (6.4 x 24.1 x 24.1 cm)

ClassificationsDecorative Arts, Ceramics

Credit LineGift of Malcolm Rougvie. In the permanent collection, Brunnier Art Museum, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.

Object numberUM2009.135abc

Status

On view

Collections

Decorative Arts

Label TextThe water pitcher and chamber pot are a ceramic bedside set that households widely used in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, before indoor plumbing became common. Families relied on these sets, which typically included a large water pitcher and a matching basin or chamber pot, to meet daily hygiene needs. Potters most often made these pieces from ironstone, a strong, vitrified ceramic valued for its durability and ability to withstand frequent use. Although collectors commonly refer to the material as ironstone, many sets lack clear maker’s marks, making it difficult to identify the specific manufacturer among the numerous American and English potteries that produced them. Artisans decorated “Iowa pattern” sets using transferware, a technique in which they transferred engraved images from paper onto the ceramic surface before glazing and f iring. Designers favored floral motifs, pastoral scenes, and stylized natural elements that reflected popular tastes of the era and brought visual interest to otherwise utilitarian objects. Households used chamber pots as a practical substitute for toilets at a time when most homes lacked bathrooms and running water.

MarkingsMarked on bottom with a brown "IOWA" in a scroll.

Locations